During the launch of LADCS in West Bengal, Justice S. Sivagnanam, Calcutta High Court judge and WBSLSA working president (seated). , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
With an aim to upgrade the delivery of legal aid, the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) on Wednesday launched the Legal Aid Defense Counseling System (LADCS) in ten districts of the state.
“It will supersede the existing fixed consultation system by which cases are assigned to a panel of lawyers empaneled with the concerned District Legal Services Authority. This system will lead to marginalization of the society from the pre-arrest stage to the appeal stage complying with NALSA. Will provide legal services to the sections. [or National Legal Services Authority] scheme,” Justice TS Sivagnanam of the Calcutta High Court, who is also the working president of SLSA, said at the inauguration.
Justice Sivagnanam said the scheme extended to all criminal courts in the state, including courts of executive magistrates. He said that basic facilities have been established in 16 districts of the State within the time frame set by NALSA.
Justice Sivagnanam said, “We are all very happy to inaugurate ten centers today but it was not an easy task but an arduous journey.” He said former Supreme Court Chief Justice UU Lalit, who was earlier the acting chairman of NALSA, has been holding virtual meetings on a weekly basis, which has given the state a lot of confidence to go ahead with the project.
Judges of the Supreme Court, the Calcutta High Court and the Chief Justices of the Meghalaya and Sikkim High Courts joined the SLSA office-bearers virtually for the inaugural function.
Sukumar Mondal, Registrar and Deputy Secretary, SLSA said that as envisaged by NALSA, LADCS lays emphasis on full time engagement of lawyers along with a support system to provide qualitative and competent legal aid, assistance and representation in criminal matters to deserving citizens. gives. In line with the public defender system. Delivering the vote of thanks, Mr. Mondal said that it was under the guidance of Justice Sivagnanam that LADCS could be successfully implemented in the State in such a short span of time.
SLSA member secretary Raju Mukherjee said that in the assigned consultation system, empaneled lawyers often failed to devote sufficient time to the cases assigned to them, adding that there were allegations of litigants being harassed in various ways. The SLSA officials also expressed hope that LADCS would soon become operational in other districts of West Bengal.