The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Legal awareness among people on low key, says Chief Justice

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Monday, Aug 18, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Legal awareness among people on low key, says Chief Justice

M. Balaganessin

Building of District Legal Aid Services Authority inaugurated

— Photo: M. Moorthy

SHARING A POINT: Justice A.K. Ganguly, Chief Justice, Madras High Court, with Law Minister Durai Murugan at the inauguration of new building of District Legal Aid Services Authority in Pudukottai district on Sunday. Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya, Judge, Madras High Court, is in the picture.

PUDUKOTTAI: Awareness among people of protecting their rights guaranteed by the Constitution, is low and they should be sensitised to the need to fight against any injustice or harassment meted out to them, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Asok Kumar Ganguly, said.

Speaking at the inaugural of the new building of the District Legal Aid Services Authority here on Sunday, Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly said that the Constitution, irrespective of economic or social status, guaranteed equal rights to every citizen of the country. Pointing out that the lack of awareness among people of their right to dignity often resulted in illegal exploitation by the upper strata people, he said that the Legal Aid Services Authorities played a pivotal role in protecting the rights of such suppressed people, Mr. Justice Ganguly called upon the socially and economically weaker sections not to suffer injustice at any cost. “Assert your rights; do not suffer injustice and raise your protection,:” he said. Mr. Justice Ganguly specifically urged women to fight against any harassment. Women suffering injustice should take maximum advantage of the Legal Aid Service Authority. “If police personnel refused to register cases, they should immediately approach the Free Legal Aid Cell (for proper remedy),” he said.

The Judges of the Madras High Court, Justice S. J. Mukopadhaya and Justice S. Rajeshwaran said that the construction of the new building would now facilitate the conduct of Lok Adalats.

The State Minister for Law and Public Works Durai Murugan said that the Legal Aid Cell, through its conciliatory efforts, would help clear the backlog of cases to a great extent.

The state government has planned to provide own buildings for all courts and quarters for judges. He appealed to the lawyers not to resort to any stir, unbecoming of the integrity of the noble profession. An intent observation of the proceedings of the cases would enhance the professional competence of lawyers.

The Member Secretary of Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, T. Mathivanan, said that work on the construction of a building for Legal Aid Services Authority was in progress in Dindigul. The Authority had been created in all districts except Chennai, Namakkal, Perambalur, Tirvarur and Tiruvannamalai.

The president of the Pudukottai Bar Association, A. Chandrasekaran, sought a building for the Association. The Principal District Judge K. Jayasankaran also spoke.

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