Judge for settling issues through discussions

Lack of training among police officers results in registering of criminal cases even for family disputes, said M. Jeyapaul, judge, Madras High Court, here on Wednesday.

(From left) Justice M. Jeyapaul, Judge, Madras High Court; Justice, Elipe Dharmarao, Judge, Madras High Court and Excutive Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Legal Service Authority, Chennai; B. Gokuldas, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, Chennai; M.P. Nirmala, Commissioner of Social Welfare, Chennai and P. Devadass Principal Judge and Chairman District Legal Services Authority, Chennai, on Legal Literacy and Awarness Camp on the occasion of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's 119 th birth anniversary in Chennai on Wednesday. Photo: S. Thanthoni

Lack of training among police officers results in registering of criminal cases even for family disputes, said M. Jeyapaul, judge, Madras High Court, here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a legal literacy and awareness camp organised by the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority and the District Legal Services Authority, Mr Justice Jeyapaul said the action of police personnel would divide the family and destroy the chances of reconciliation between the family members.

In his opinion one should keep the option of approaching the courts as a last resort to solve an issue. Instead they should try to find a solution to the problem through discussions.

The State Legal Services Authority was mainly created to create awareness among poor and the needy.

He also cautioned the accident victims to be careful about brokers, who would assure them that a huge sum could be collected as compensation. The accident victims could contact the State Legal Services Authority for proper guidance.

Elipe Dharma Rao, judge, Madras High Court and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, Chennai, said with the increased number of illegal activities it was necessary to have legal knowledge. This would help the people to overcome problems.

On the awareness programme, Mr Justice Dharma Rao said on many occasions, such programmes did not reach the poorest of the poor. In order to achieve that the legal system needed to be strengthened.

Providing legal literacy was the first step towards empowering the poor. To achieve this objective, people should be literate, he added.

M.P.Nirmala, Commissioner of Social Welfare Department, said her Department received more than 7,740 cases throughout the State. Most of them were relating to breaking down of marriages. Dowry related cases were relatively less, she said.

She also explained how the Social Welfare Department was taking steps to help women in distress by providing them the required support.

B. Gokuldas, Member-Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, Chennai and P.Devadass, Principal Judge/Chairman, District Legal Services Authority were among those who spoke.