Chief Justice Ravi Malimath inaugurates first phase of Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in 19 districts

 

 

Justice Ravi Malimath, Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Patron-in-Chief, MP State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA), Jabalpur, on Tuesday inaugurated first Phase of Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in 19 districts of MP including Ashoknagar, Balaghat, Barwani, Bhopal, Chhatarpur, Chhindwara, Dewas, Dhar, Guna, Jhabua, Mandla, Mandsaur, Narmadapuram, Narsinghpur, Raisen, Shahdol, Shajapur, Umaria, Vidisha (MP) along with orientation and Capacity Building Training Programme for selected Chief and Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsels in presence of Justice Vivek Agarwal, Judge , High Court of MP and Chairman HCLSC, Jabalpur and other respected dignitaries.

The Chief Justice addressed the gathering and said that “so far, providing legal aid to poor has always been one of the goals of Legal Services Authority and right from the very inception, Legal Aid is being provided, but after Legal Aid Defense Counsel System we have a dedicated system along with dedicated set of lawyers who take up this job of assisting the defense and for this reason this scheme has been propounded and it comes with emoluments also.

It is only intended that each one of Defense Counsels dedicate themselves completely only for this cause. Every accused needs to be defended by a quality lawyer. We really want dedicated people for this. We want people who really have some kind of passion to help those people in need of quality legal services. The entire profession is itself a passion. You must love what you are doing. It is only then that you can give your best to whatever you are doing. I am sure that all selected Defense counsels must be very best or the people who are really interested to do this. So I congratulate each one of you for coming on board and really hope people will get quality legal assistance through you. As per NALSA’s LADCS Scheme, 2022, Legal Aid Defense Counsel System is launched across the Nation, in which 19 District of M.P. were selected to implement said scheme. MPSLSA, under the constant guidance of Justice Sheel Nagu, Executive Chairman, MPSLSA, ensured timely development of infrastructure, completion of selection process and implementation of LADCS in selected districts. In above programme Rajiv Karmahe, Member Secretary, MPSLSA in welcome address gave brief information regarding LADCS Scheme, Selection process and training programme of Defense Counsels. He also mentioned that after 1st Phase, Legal Aid Defense Counsel System is going to be functional in all remaining 31 Districts of the State of MP and efforts are being made to make it functional till 31st March, 2023. In said programme Respected Registrar General, Ramkumar Choubey, Director, MP State Judicial Academy, Krishnamurty Mishra, Registry Officers of High Court, Officers of MPSJA and DLAOs of MPSLSA were also present. Additional Secretary, MPSLSA, Manoj Kumar Singh given information.