Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 430/19

SUPREME COURT JUDGE INAUGURATES FRONT OFFICE OF DSLA AND HOLDS REVIEW MEETING

Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Judge Supreme Court of India today inaugurated the Front Office of the District Legal Services Authority (DSLA), East Khasi Hills District at the District Court Complex, Shillong in the presence of Mr. Justice A K Mittal, Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya and Patron-In-Chief, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, Mr. Justice H.S Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, Smti. M War Nongbri, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District and members of the Bar Association. Following the inauguration, Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari also chaired a review meeting with the Secretaries of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority and the District State Legal Services Authority at the Conference Hall of the High Court of Meghalaya.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, while reminiscing about his stint as the former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court from 2016-2018, complimented the legal fraternity for making a difference. Stating that the concept of legal justice is to work for the common good, he called on the legal fraternity to continue with their committed service. Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari said that the motto of the Legal Services is Justice For All, he said that every step taken by the State and District Legal Services Authorities will go a long way in bridging the gap and providing succour to those in need. Pointing out that Meghalaya has many challenges unique to the State, he said that legal fraternity is committed to individually, collectively and judicially ensure that the challenges are met effectively. Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari also spoke about the need for a legal audit of Legal Aid Lawyers and also praised the contribution of Para Legal Volunteers.

Mr. Justice A K Mittal, Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya while presenting the keynote address informed that in the State of Meghalaya, the District Legal Service Authorities have been set up in all 11 districts of the State where Judicial Officers have also been posted as full time Secretaries. He also added that 251 Legal Awareness Programmes were organised by the DSLAs in which 1, 18,012 people have been benefited. In spite of the work done, Mr. Justice A K Mittal added that there is much room for improvement in areas like, setting up of Legal Empowerment Camps, Legal Literacy Clubs, Legal Service Clinic in village level, increasing the number of Para Legal Volunteers, awareness programme amongst inmates about the availability of free legal Aid about the right of appeal.

Others who spoke were Mr. Justice H.S Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya who delivered the welcome address, Shri. N A Khan, Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority gave a presentation of some of the recent initiatives undertaken by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority and the positive impact of the actions.