Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority Organised A Refresher Training Program.

Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority in association with Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy organized a Refresher Training Program for Legal Aid Defense Counsels at CSJA. The Chief Guest, Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh & Patron-In-Chief Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy, & Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority inaugurated the Session.

The Program was also attended by Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Judge, High Court of Chhattisgarh & Executive Chairman, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority & Justice Rajani Dubey, Judge High Court of Chhattisgarh, & Chairperson Committee to monitor the functioning of Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy.

In his inaugural address, The Chief Justice highlighted the role of Legal Aid Defense Counsels in ensuring access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable sections of society. He emphasized, “Legal aid should be provided to the poor, but legal aid itself must not be poor,” and stressed the need for legal aid counsels to continuously upgrade their knowledge, skills, and professional ethics. He delivered an address emphasizing that the framework of legal aid has grown into one of the pillars supporting the constitutional guarantee of equality before law and equal protection of the laws. He remarked that “It is through your tireless efforts that the ideal of Article 39A of Indian Constitution—that no person shall be denied justice by reason of economic or other disabilities—finds realisation in our courts every single day.” He also highlighted that as of 1st September 2025, they have with them 23 Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsels and 54 Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsels shouldering this responsibility across the State. Hefurther highlighted that in the State of Chhattisgarh, between January 2025 and August 2025, a total of 3,443 cases were assigned to Defense Counsels and 1,938 cases—which includes both sessions trials and cases before the magistrate courts—were disposed of within this period. During these eight months 2,101 bail applications were assigned out of which 2,027 bail applications have been pursued by their Counsels.

The Chief Justice urged all the Legal Aid Defense Counsels that “the journey of learning in law is unending, for the law itself is ever-evolving. By engaging in this training programme, you reaffirm your resolve to adapt with the changing times, to remain diligent students of the law, and to dedicate yourselves afresh to the noble service of justice.”

The Refresher Training Program witnessed participation of Defense Counsels from across the State, who engaged in sessions and deliberations. The event was attended by the Incharge Registrar General & other Registry Officers of High Court. Welcome address was delivered by Director of Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy & concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by The Member Secretary of the CGSLSA.