Regional Consultation of State Legal Services Authorities of Eastern Zone

Imphal, 17th June, 2021

Regional Consultation of State Legal Services Authorities of Eastern Zone

Regional Consultation of State Legal Services Authorities of Eastern Zone is held on 17th June, 2021 at 11.00 AM through virtual mode for the strengthening of legal services activities in the region. The Consultation is participated by Executive Chairperson of State Legal Services Authorities, Chairperson of High Court Legal Services Committees and Member Secretaries of the State Legal Services Authorities of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya & Mizoram.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, second senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA chaired the Consultation Meet. In his inaugural speech, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA praised Manipur State Legal Services Authority for the remarkable legal aid services provided in the state. His Lordship highlighted that Manipur SLSA has the lowest average cost per person for extending legal aid to needy persons among the north-eastern states.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kh. Nobin Singh, Executive Chairperson, MASLSA highlighted some remarkable works done by Manipur SLSA such as conducting of e-Lok Adalat, developing of Prisoner Database Management Portal and at the same time raised concerns over the issues regarding implementation of NALSA’s Early Access to Justice at Pre-Arrest, Arrest and Remand Stage, implementation of Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme etc.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice M.V. Muralidran, Chairperson of the Manipur High Court Legal Services Committee also highlighted the various activities done by the High Court Legal Services Committee. His Lordship also expressed the need of engaging senior lawyers on pro-bono basis for legal aided cases.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA made special mentioned of the state of Manipur by stating that the number of legal aid beneficiaries increased from about 18,000 persons during 2019-20 to more than 56,000 persons during 2020-21, despite the Covid-19 pandemic situation. It was a mark of all the legal services institutions and functionaries being fully active during the pandemic. Further, it can also be highlighted that Manipur SLSA reached out to maximum number of persons through legal awareness & outreach programmes with the minimum number of programme amongst all the states in India.

(S. Sadananda)
Deputy Member Secretary,
Manipur State Legal Services Authority
ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex,
Imphal West - 795004