Puducherry: Mr Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya of the Supreme Court today called upon lawyers, medical personnel, students and other sections of society to acquaint themselves with provisions of various legislations and then generate legal awareness among the people for whom the laws were meant to ensure their protection and promote their welfare.
Rolling out ‘legal awareness programme for college students and declaring open Village Legal Care and Support Centres’ of Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority here today Mr Justice Mukhopadhaya said a number of legislations had been enacted in the country which were meant to take care of women and weaker sections.
‘The provisions of these legislations should be imbibed by the people for whom the laws are meant and it is the duty of lawyers and students community to generate awareness among them about the laws,’ he added.
He said atrocities on women were taking place in the country. A legislation to prevent domestic violence, which is a penal law, had been enforced.
Relief can also be given under the act to the affected women and awareness should be created among the suffering women to assert their rights and get relief.
He also said workers in unorganised sector should be taken care of by framing specific schemes in consonance with the labour legislation enforced in 2008.
`No scheme is, however, framed under the Act to give benefits to the unorganised labourers,` he said.
Relief should go to the poor labourers engaged in various sectors, including farming, infrastructure development and construction activities.
Mr Justice Mukhopadhaya stressed on the need for ensuring legal aid to the poor and the marginalised sections in society.
Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Mr.Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Patron-in-Chief of the Legal Services Authority of Union Territory of Puducherry who launched the `District Legal Services Authority for Karaikal region and legal service news programme of the Doordarshan Kendra referred to the role played by Legal Services Authority to enable people to get relief through early resolution of their grievances so as to make life of people better.
Judge of Madras High Court, Mr Justice K.Agnihotri, who is also Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority declared open conciliation cells housed in Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Research Centre and the Dr Ambedkar Government Law College here and stressed on the importance of conciliation of disputes.
Chief Minister N.Rangasamy, who presided, said the plea of the Bar Association of Puducherry for financial assistance to young lawyers in the nascent stage of their practice and government’s contribution to the Advocates Relief Fund would be conceded soon.
Judge of Madras High Court, Mr.Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar, who is also Chairman of the Legal Services Authority of Union Territory of Puducherry was among those who spoke.
A toll free Help Line of Legal Services Authority was also launched on the occasion. (UNI)
