In a significant outreach initiative aimed at taking legal awareness and access to justice to the remotest and far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kupwara, under the aegis of the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA) and in furtherance of the objectives of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), today organised an awareness programme on the NALSA JAGRITI (Justice Awareness for Grassroots Information and Transparency Initiative) Scheme, 2025, under the theme “Empowered Youth, Stronger India”, at Government Degree College, Tangdhar.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Patron-in-Chief and Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
The programme was attended by M. K. Sharma, Registrar General, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh; Ms. Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority; Manjeet Singh Manhas, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kupwara; Shrikant Bala Sahib, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara; and Syed Tahir Geelani, SSP Kupwara, besides officers of the district administration, police and education department, judicial officers, members of the Bar Association Tangdhar, faculty members, representatives of civil society and a large number of students from Government Degree College Tangdhar, Government Higher Secondary Schools and other educational institutions.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by the Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kupwara, who welcomed the Chief Guest and other dignitaries and highlighted the importance of taking legal services and awareness initiatives to remote and frontier areas.
Thereafter, various speakers, including the Secretary, DLSA Kupwara, sensitised the gathering about the NALSA JAGRITI Scheme, 2025, its objectives, grassroots philosophy and the mechanism envisaged for its implementation. The speakers highlighted the need for sustained legal awareness through schools, colleges, Legal Literacy Clubs, Para-Legal Volunteers, Legal Services Authorities, Taluk Legal Services Committees and other local institutions.
The speakers explained that the JAGRITI Scheme—Justice Awareness for Grassroots Information and Transparency Initiative—seeks to take legal knowledge and the benefits of legal services closer to the people. Its underlying philosophy is that awareness of rights and duties should not remain confined to courts or legal institutions but should reach citizens in their communities, educational institutions and other places of everyday interaction.
The initiative seeks to move from mere legal awareness towards legal empowerment, enabling people to understand their rights and duties, identify available remedies and know where and how to seek legal assistance.
Dr. Adil, representing IMHANS-K, thereafter addressed the gathering on mental health and emotional well-being. He sensitised the students and participants about the importance of recognising mental health concerns at an early stage, seeking timely professional assistance and creating a supportive and stigma-free environment for persons experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Justice Sanjeev Kumar emphasised that legal awareness is an important instrument of empowerment and that the justice delivery system must remain accessible to every section of society.
Addressing issues concerning children and juvenile justice, the Chief Justice emphasised the need for a sensitive, child-friendly and rehabilitative approach towards children in conflict with law.
As part of the outreach initiative, a medical camp was also organised for the local population, where free medical consultation, treatment and medicines were provided to a large number of people. The camp complemented the broader outreach objective of addressing the well-being of communities residing in remote areas.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Sadaf Rauf, Professor, Government Degree College, Tangdhar. She expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and all the dignitaries, officers, speakers, faculty members, students, artists and other participants for their presence and valuable contribution to the successful conduct of the programme. She also acknowledged the efforts of the District Legal Services Authority, Kupwara, and all associated departments and institutions in organising the outreach programme at Tangdhar.
The holding of such an awareness programme at Tangdhar reaffirmed the larger vision of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, NALSA and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority that geographical location should never become a barrier to justice, and that the promise of legal awareness, legal assistance and access to justice must reach every community, including those living in the farthest and most difficult-to-reach areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
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