Editorial 14 December, 2020 Issue
Insaaf Ki Dastak : A Ray of Hope
Justice is the paramount need of every society and to run society in peaceful and progressive manner delivery of Justice is a must.
Former Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Patron-in-Chief J&K State Legal Services Authority, Gita Mittal, who retired few days back but before that launched an ambitious legal outreach programme “Insaf Ki Dastak”.
A statement stated that the programme aims at providing access to justice at the door steps of people living in far-flung and inaccessible areas of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh who face severe hardships in reaching the courts for their legal issues.
The project “Insaaf ki Dastak” (Access to Justice for inaccessible areas) was envisioned by former Chief Justice, Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal, Executive Chairman of J&K SLSA to ensure that no person is deprived of their constitutional rights enshrined in Article 39-A of the Constitution of India which provides that the State shall secure that the operation of legal system promotes justice, on the basis of equal opportunity and to ensure that the opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of any disability.Pertinently, the rules governing the filing of suits, appeals and petition by the persons residing in remote areas were framed and by virtue of Notification no. 1617 dated: 07.03.2019, the High Court of J&K made necessary amendments to J&K General Rules (Civil) of 1978 svt. The High Court in Sch. (Schedule) A Chapter 8 of the J&K General Rules (Civil) of 1978 Svt. has notified certain areas of UTs of J&K and Ladakh as remote areas.One hopes wheels of Justice run smoothly in Jammu and Kashmir in favour of justice starved masses .
For achieving the target of the Project, the assistance of department of posts and certain government approved agencies providing public services (Common Services Centres) was also sought. The Para Legal Volunteers who form an important area of Legal Services Authorities would bridge the gap between the people living in inaccessible areas with Court and other Legal Services Authorities by facilitating filing of cases as per rules through the CSC’s /Post office located in their area.One hopes this programme changes dynamics of justice in Jammu and Kashmir towards betterment.