CJ highlights role of para-legal volunteers

SHILLONG: The Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya, Dinesh Maheshwari, has stressed on the importance of para-legal volunteers to sensitise people, especially at the grassroots level, about their rights and duties, besides responsibilities as citizens of the country.
Inaugurating a four-day training programme for para-legal volunteers (PLVs) of East Khasi Hills on Tuesday, organised by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), Maheshwari said para-legal volunteers being the first point of contact to help people seeking legal aid, play an important role in educating people about their various rights.
The Chief Justice, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of MSLSA, added that they also act as intermediaries between the common people and legal services institutions for removing barriers of access to justice.
He also urged the judges, lawyers and government officials to take part in the training and share their experiences to further enlighten and equip the para-legal volunteers to deal with various types of legal advices.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Judges SR Sen and Ved Prakash Vaish.