Prisoners too have right to seek legal assistance

DHARWAD: The District Legal Services Authority in association with the prisons department has set up a free legal aid assistance centre at the central prison in Dharwad. The objective of this centre is to provide legal assistance to inmates, both convicts and undertrials. They will be informed about the nature of crime committed by them and the legal options available.
Principal district and sessions judge Siddappa Hosamani inaugurated the centre on Friday.

Jail superintendent R Anita said a majority of those lodged in the jail suffer from severe depression. “Fear, anxiety and depression haunt them. There are very few people who stand by them and motivate them to come out of depression. This assistance centre has been opened to support such persons,” she said.

Following a Supreme Court order, the Union government had directed to open legal aid counselling centres at all central prisons to provide legal aid to undertrials.

Judge Hosamani said that even an inmate has the right to seek legal help and also freedom of individuality. There is a need to ensure human rights are protected. This centre will act as a model to other centres being set up in central prisons across the state, he said.

DLSA member-secretary R S Chinnannavar said the centre would work for four days a week and also during times of emergencies. “One male and four women advocates would be appointed at this centre. They will hold one-to-one counselling and help convicts and under-trials know about their case. The centre will also disseminate free legal aid to the inmates,” he added.

If necessary, the advocates here would also file appeals online and the legal aid centre would place it before the appropriate court, said Chinnannavar.