Suggestions by CJI for starting 24-hour legal aid helpline, clinics Chief Justice of India P SathasivamWhile speaking on the occasion of National Legal Services Day on November 9 which also marked the 18th anniversary of the coming in force of the Legal Services Authorities Act, Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam talked about the need of special measures to be undertaken to ensure legal aid and help to victims of rape and other heinous crimes. He gave various suggestions for improving the quality of service provided by legal service authorities across the country one of which is to open up 24-hour legal aid helplines and clinics so that timely advice be provided to victims of heinous crimes, like rape. Stating that legal aid services are not grants but social entitlements of the people, Justice Sathasivam gave a number of other suggestions like reviewing the performance of the lawyers who volunteer as legal aid counsel, providing adequate incentives to encourage young and bright lawyers, organizing frequent legal aid camps in remote and rural areas, spreading of legal literacy and awareness and weekly visits to prisons to provide legal assistance to undertrials and convicts. Justice Sathasivam was also of the view that prior to being conferred status of senior advocate a condition should be imposed that any lawyer must have attended a few cases as a legal aid counsel. He also suggested for rendering timely legal aid to juveniles and children in conflict with law. He informed that in order to appoint a separate panel to regularly visit reformation homes and other such institutions, like old-age homes and to ascertain the position of their inhabitants a letter has been sent to chief justices of all high courts.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:43:45 +0000
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