Mohali: Manjinder Singh, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar visited Jyoti Sarup Kanya Ashram, Kharar and Prabh Asra, Padiala shelter homes.
While interacting with the girls of Jyoti Sarup Kanya Ashram, he encouraged them to work hard on their studies to achieve their aims.
They were also apprised about free legal services being provided by Punjab State Legal Services Authority under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
He divulged that although poor people having income less than three lacs are entitled to free legal services but women irrespective of their income can avail of this facility.
During a visit to Prabh Asra, those in charge were made aware of the rights of mentally sick and disabled persons and legal services to them under the NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015.
Thereafter he inspected the District Jail, Rupnagar where inmates were interacted with and educated about the concept of plea-bargaining, the right to appeal, and the right to free legal aid.
The undertrial who intended to seek legal aid were provided legal services on the spot and panel lawyers were appointed to contest their cases.
Besides this, he inspected the kitchen, food, and other basic amenities provided by jail authorities.
The Jail Superintendent was directed to send the cases to DLSAs in which bail has been granted but the undertrial has not been released even after 7 days from the date of order of bail as per directions of the Supreme Court of India.
Baljinder Singh Maan and Ms.Himanshi, CJM-cum-Secretary, DLSA, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar respectively were also present during the visit.