KARGIL: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Kargil on Sunday marked Legal Services Day with a program held at the Conference Hall, Baroo, reaffirming its commitment to ensure justice and legal aid for all sections of society.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Kargil Wangial Tsering presided over the event, which saw participation from Secretary DLSA Chemit Yurgyal, President Bar Association Kargil Reyaz Ahmed Khan, panel lawyers, para-legal volunteers, members of the district court staff, and advocates from the Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) team.
In her welcome address, Advocate Kaneez Fatima, Panel Lawyer DLSA Kargil, reflected on the relevance of the day, observing that the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987—enforced in 1995—was a major step towards providing justice and legal support to citizens irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Para Legal Volunteer Khairun Nissa spoke on the vital contribution of volunteers in bridging the gap between the public and legal institutions, while Advocate Haji Ghulam Murtaza highlighted the proactive role of panel lawyers in extending legal assistance to the underprivileged.
Secretary DLSA, Chemit Yurgyal, in his address, elaborated on various initiatives under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), including the Legal Aid Defense Counsel Scheme, which aims to strengthen access to justice at the grassroots level. He also presented a brief overview of DLSA Kargil’s ongoing outreach and awareness activities through a PowerPoint presentation, acknowledging the dedication of panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers for their consistent service.
Bar Association President, Advocate Reyaz Ahmad Khan, underlined the importance of utilizing legal provisions and welfare schemes enshrined under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, emphasizing citizens’ entitlement to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare benefits.
In his concluding remarks, Chief Judicial Magistrate Wangial Tsering called for compassionate engagement in delivering justice, particularly to marginalized communities. He stressed that legal aid efforts must be guided by empathy and an understanding of the challenges faced by the public.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel Nissar Hussain. The proceedings were conducted by Para Legal Volunteer Khairun Nissa.
The observance of Legal Services Day served as a reminder of the continuing mission of DLSA Kargil to uphold the constitutional promise of equal justice and access to legal remedies for all citizens.
