BILASPUR: Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, the Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Himachal Pradesh on Friday today inaugurated the office of Legal Aid Defence Counsel System in Bilaspur.
Sh Justice Chauhan, who is also Executive Chairperson, H.P. State Legal Services Authority dedicated the facility in the presence of Sh. Justice Ajay Mohan Goel and Sh. Justice Satyen Vaidya, Judges, High Court of Himachal Pradesh
Legal Aid Defence Counsel System provides for rendering legal aid, assistance and representation in criminal matters in line with “Public Defender System” to the needy.
The court-based legal services need to be strengthened for providing effective and efficient legal services to the weaker and marginalised sections of the society.
As envisaged, Legal Aid Defence Counsel System involves a full time engagement of lawyers with support system to deal exclusively with legal aid work in criminal matters at District Headquarters.
If found feasible, the services may be extended to Talukas or Online Courts, said HPSLSA’ member secretary Prem Pal Ranta.
Similarly, Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office at Mandi will be inaugurated at 09.30 AM tomorrow.
“Now we have made this system functional at all District Headquarters”, said Ranta.
“It will provide competent and qualitative legal services to the poor and marginalized sections of the society”.
Legal Aid Defence Counsel System Office provides:
- Legal Advice and Assistance to all individuals visiting office of Legal Aid Defence Counsel System, District Legal Services Authority and Front Office.
- Representation/Conducting trial and appeals including all miscellaneous work in all Criminal Courts such as Court of Session, Special Courts and Judicial Magistrate Courts including Executive Magistrate Courts.
- Handling Remand and Bail work,
- Providing legal assistance at pre-arrest stage as per need and also in accordance with NALSA's scheme for providing such assistance,
- Any other legal aid work related to District Courts or as assigned by the Secretary, DLSA.
- Periodic visit of Prisons of the district under the guidance of the Secretary, DLSA.
