SHILLONG: Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir on Saturday praised paralegal volunteers and panel lawyers for their “divine work” of helping the poor.
Addressing a gathering at a one-day orientation cum sensitisation programme for paralegal volunteers and panel lawyers at the Meghalaya High Court conference hall, the chief justice said, “You are doing a divine job and will be rewarded everywhere. God will also reward you for it. You are able to wash the tears of the poor man from his face. God will help you.”
Mir is also the patron-in-chief of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA).
The Chief Justice also exhorted those who came from the six districts of East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hill, West Khasi Hills, South-West Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills besides Ri Bhoi.
He also stressed on the fact that the mandate of Article 39(A) of the Constitution of India resulting in the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 through free legal aid and various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) provides a way to reach out to the poor and the downtrodden and those who have no one to help them.
Another way to help them is through welfare schemes which have been formulated by NALSA, such as the NALSA (Legal Services to Disaster Victims through Legal Services Authority) Scheme 2010, NALSA (Victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation) Scheme, 2015 and others, he said.
While speaking about panel lawyers, the Chief Justice emphasised that taking up cases of free legal aid has to be treated as a way of social work and not to gain monetary benefits.
It is also an opportunity to take up cases before the Courts to get exposure, he added.
The meeting was also graced by SR Sen, Executive Chairman, MSLSA, the Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya as well as district judges and judicial officers among others.
