Telangana State Legal Services Authority, DLSA Oragnize Legal Awareness Programme Across Jails To Improve Prisoners' Legal Literacy

The Telangana State Legal Services Authority and the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) conducted a comprehensive legal awareness program across the State's prisons to improve legal literacy among prison inmates.

A legal awareness camp on "Rights of Prisoners" was also organized on January 25 which was inaugurated by Telangana High Court's Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, who is also the Patron in Chief cum Executive Chairman of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, and was attended by Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavil and other prominent judicial officers. 

Speaking at the event the Acting Chief Justice said,“Today, just a day before the Republic Day, we have gathered here under the aegis of the Legal Awareness camp. 26th January, is the day when our constitution was implemented. The 1st page of the constitution is our guiding light. It is the document on which we have to march forward. The makers of our constitution believed that we will create an equitable and equal nation where every one is equal and in the making of it we will have equality, economic, political and of expression is important.”

He further spoke about the importance of "access to Justice" and a strong legal defence. The channel through which legal services can be secured as prisoners was also discussed.

“The secretaries of the DLSA and other concerned officers visit the jails periodically and if you ever feel your rights are violated and you have any difficulty, you must inform them about it. The complete purpose of this camp is to ensure that you know that the rights available to you under the laws and the constitution of India. I wish success for this programme and I believe that when you go back from here today, you will go back more aware of your rights and you will use it”, the judge said while concluding.

Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili addressed the gathering by speaking on the importance of the legal service institution which aims to bridge the gap between prisons and access to justice.

The program aimed at sensitizing all prisoners–targeting all 36 prisons in Telangana, which house a total prison population of 6,704. This includes 4,754 under-trial prisoners and 1,935 convict prisoners across the state, informing them about the availability of Free Legal Aid, the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System, how to get free legal aid, the Rights of under-trial prisoners, and the rights of convicted persons.

At the event Prof. Murali Karanam, professor of NALSAR gave an in depth explanation about rights of prisoners and the Supreme Court judgments that support the said philosophy. The process of filing an appeal was explained, the process to secure the services of a Legal Service lawyer and the modes to seek compensation in case of wrongful imprisonment.

Ch. Panchakshari, Member Secretary of the State Legal Services also addressed the prisoners and informed the prisoners about the steps taken by NALSA which aims at helping financially incapable individuals.