Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 31

District and Sessions Judge Harpreet Kaur Randhawa on Monday visited the Amritsar Central Jail. During the visit, she inspected jail barracks, kitchen, hospital complex, legal aid clinic and video conferencing room.

Pushpinder Singh and Ashish Saldi, Chief Judicial Magistrates, had accompanied her while Arshdeep Singh Gill, Jail Superintendent and Hemant Sharma, Deputy Superintendent (Maintenance), were also present on the occasion.

The grievances of the jail inmates were taken up with the jail authorities. Randhawa informed the inmates about various legal aid services being provided by the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, including ADR mechanism, legal aid, lok adalats, victim compensation schemes, para legal volunteer services, legal aid clinic and legal literacy clubs in schools and colleges, etc.

They were also made aware about the free legal aid provided by the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar, and were apprised that any inmate in the jail whether convict or undertrial is entitled to free legal aid under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987, by filing a simple application and thereafter he is immediately provided a free legal aid counsel. Similarly, in case a person is convicted by the court and intends to file appeal/revision against the order of conviction, he can also file an application in the office of District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar, she told.

It was further informed that all expenses incurred during the case were borne by the District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar. They were told that there was a legal aid clinic established at the Central Jail, Amritsar, where trained para legal volunteers were deputed by the District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar.