Ganderbal, July 08, 2025: As part of a sustained outreach and legal awareness initiative, the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) team of DLSA Ganderbal, led by the Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, today visited Police Post Shadipora to conduct a detailed interaction session with the Division Officer Incharge and police personnel of the post.
The visit aimed to strengthen the working relationship between the police and the legal aid defence system, and to raise awareness among law enforcement officials about the scope, functioning, and mandatory provisions of the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System established under the NALSA Model Scheme 2022.
The event was successfully conducted under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority) and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority. The initiative was effectively overseen by Ms. Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, and Mr. Abdul Nasir, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Ganderbal, along with the guidance of Mr. Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal.
The primary objectives of the interaction were to sensitize police officials about the role of the LADC system in ensuring the right to fair and free legal representation, to educate officers about mandatory procedures under law for informing accused persons of their right to legal aid, especially during arrest, detention, and interrogation, to emphasize the constitutional and statutory obligations of the police under Article 22(1) of the Constitution, Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and relevant Supreme Court judgments including DK Basu v. State of West Bengal.
During the visit, it was noted that no individual was currently in custody at Police Post Shadipora. However, the team was informed that one person had recently been detained under preventive measures and sent to Subsidiary Jail Dignibal. The LADC team emphasized that even in cases of preventive detention, timely legal assistance and access to legal representation remain a fundamental right and must be ensured at all stages.
During the interaction, Mr. Sajid Irfan Deputy LADC briefed the officials on the composition and role of LADC teams available round-the-clock to represent accused persons at the pre-trial and trial stages.
He further said that every individual in custody is entitled to be informed of their right to free legal aid, irrespective of the nature of the offence or their economic status. He also highlighted that legal aid must be made available immediately after arrest, and not only during remand or court proceedings, as per the directions of Hon’ble Courts and legal aid policies.
The Officer Incharge, Police Post Shadipora, appreciated the initiative of DLSA Ganderbal and assured full cooperation in timely referrals and in upholding the constitutional safeguards of arrested persons. He also acknowledged the need for continuous coordination between the police and legal aid institutions to strengthen the justice delivery system at the grassroots.
The DLSA Ganderbal reiterated its commitment to continuing such visits across all police establishments in the district, including Police Stations, Posts, and Custodial Centers. These outreach efforts are crucial for ensuring that no person is denied the right to legal aid, and that the LADC system functions in close synergy with investigation and detention authorities.
