UDHAMPUR, SEPTEMBER 29: As part of ongoing efforts to ensure access to justice, legal aid and welfare services for inmates, the Chairperson District Legal Services Authority (Principal District & Sessions Judge) Udhampur Kalpana Revo, accompanied by Secretary DLSA (Sub-Judge) Sumati Sharma, today conducted Quarterly Inspection of the Prison Legal Aid Clinic and the District Jail.
During the visit, the Chairperson reviewed the functioning of the Prison Legal Aid Clinic and interacted with the inmates to ascertain their grievances relating to legal aid, pending cases, legal representation and other issues concerning their rights and welfare. The inmates were also made aware of their right to avail themselves of free legal services through the District Legal Services Authority.
As part of the visit, the DLSA Udhampur also took an initiative for facilitating the inmates in accessing the Government welfare schemes and for updating their necessary KYC and other documents.
In this regard, officials from the ICDS Department as well as the TSO visited the District Jail and interacted with the concerned authorities and inmates. The initiative aims to ensure that the inmates and their families are not deprived of the benefits of Government welfare schemes merely due to non-availability or non-updation of requisite documents, KYC or biometric details.
The concerned officials were requested to facilitate the necessary process relating to Aadhaar Cards, Ration Cards and other eligible welfare benefits, wherever required, so that the families of inmates can avail the benefits available under the Government schemes in accordance with the applicable rules.
The jail premises, including barracks, kitchen, sanitation facilities, medical facilities and other essential amenities, were also inspected to assess the overall living conditions of the inmates. Necessary directions were issued to the concerned authorities for addressing the issues noticed during the inspection and for ensuring the welfare, dignity and basic rights of the prisoners.
The visit reflects the continued efforts of DLSA Udhampur towards strengthening the legal aid mechanism in prisons and ensuring that inmates have access not only to legal assistance but also to their legitimate Government welfare benefits and other essential services.
