Srinagar, July 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals: Bridging the Gaps” held in Srinagar. The event was organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and J&K Legal Services Authority.
The conference was attended by Supreme Court Judge and NALSA Executive Chairman Justice Surya Kant; Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal; Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court Justice N. Kotiswar Singh; Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Sindhu Sharma; GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma; and other dignitaries.
Paying homage to the Kargil War martyrs, LG Sinha extended his felicitations to the legal fraternity and reiterated the constitutional guarantee of justice—social, economic, and political—for every citizen, especially the most marginalized.
“In our culture, the court is not just a place of law but a sacred temple of justice, committed to ensuring equal access without discrimination,” Sinha said. He urged Legal Services Authorities to prioritize timely legal aid for armed forces personnel, tribals, and the vulnerable, to ensure protection of their constitutional rights.
Highlighting landmark reforms since 2019, the LG noted that key central laws—such as the Forest Rights Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act—are now applicable in J&K, empowering tribal communities through expanded constitutional guarantees and legal aid.
He also underlined major administrative steps taken for the welfare of defence personnel, including:
· Amendment to J&K Legal Services Authority Rules, 2020, to include Zila Sainik Board Secretaries in District Legal Services Authorities for better outreach to serving and retired soldiers.
· Establishment of the Lieutenant Governor’s Sainik Sahayta Kendra, a dedicated redressal platform for defence personnel serving in or hailing from J&K.
“Delays in justice are a denial of justice. Legal Services Authorities at the grassroots must be proactive to help the needy and deprived,” Sinha stressed, expressing hope that the conference would yield actionable insights to improve legal access and awareness.
A host of initiatives were also launched on the occasion:
· NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025: A dedicated legal aid scheme for defence personnel, ex-servicemen, and their families. It includes legal services clinics within Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards.
· Defence Personnel Case Management System
· Special Samvad Legal Units for tribal outreach
· Legal Service Centres at Sainik Welfare Boards in J&K and Ladakh
· Mobile Medical Camp for Ladakh’s tribal population
· Tribal Kiosks unveiled at Leh Airport
· Para-legal Volunteer Certificates presented to Veer Naris and ex-servicemen
Justice Surya Kant and other dignitaries appreciated the UT’s efforts in bringing justice to previously neglected groups and highlighted the role of legal institutions in safeguarding the rights of all citizens, particularly those who serve the nation and reside in remote tribal belts.
