Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. UDHAMPUR: In compliance with the directions of the Member Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Udhampur, organized a review meeting here today to review the working of Para‑Legal Volunteers (PLVs) of DLSA and officials of the Tehsil Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) of Ramnagar, Majalta and Chenani.
The meeting was held in physical mode here at the Conference Hall, District Court Complex, while the Chairpersons of the respective TLSCs joined virtually. The review was conducted under the guidance of Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority and Principal District & Sessions Judge Udhampur Kalpana Revo and under the overall supervision of Secretary DLSA Sumati Sharma.
The Secretary DLSA convened the meeting and outlined its objectives. The session focused on assessing ongoing outreach activities, evaluating the impact of legal awareness programmes, reviewing case referrals and follow‑up procedures and identifying obstacles to effective service delivery at the grassroots level. The Secretary sought the progress reports from PLVs on legal aid outreach, awareness camps and beneficiary identification, besides assessing the case referral mechanisms and coordination between PLVs, TLSC officials and Legal Aid Defence Counsels.
Stress was laid on proper record‑keeping, while assessing the standard of documentation and procedures for timely reporting to DLSA. Capacity‑ building and proposed training programmes for PLVs and TLSC staff also came up for discussion. Measures being taken to ensure confidentiality, ethical conduct and sensitivity while dealing with undertrial and indigent clients were also assessed.
The PLVs and TLSC officials from Ramnagar, Majalta and Chenani presented district‑level experiences, highlighting local challenges, such as logistical constraints and community awareness gaps. They proposed practical solutions to improve outreach and case management.
The virtual participation of TLSC Chairpersons facilitated strategic input and ensured alignment between local committees and DLSA priorities. The Secretary DLSA outlined the plans for a Special Lok Adalat focused on cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and directed stakeholders to maximize case disposal during the event.
The Secretary directed officials to consolidate the meeting’s recommendations into an action plan with clear timelines and assigned responsibilities. She emphasized enhanced coordination among PLVs, TLSC officials and Legal Aid Defence Counsels, regular reporting and scheduled capacity‑building initiatives. Sumati Sharma reaffirmed DLSA’s commitment to expanding access to justice by strengthening grassroots mechanisms and instructed TLSCs to prioritize vulnerable and marginalized groups in their outreach.
Further, the Secretary assessed preparations for the upcoming Lok Adalat and provided detailed guidance on completing the Lok Adalat disposal sheet. She explained the distinction between pre‑litigation and post‑litigation matters, giving examples of the types of disputes suitable for each category and clarifying the criteria to determine suitability. The guidance was intended to ensure that the disposal sheet is completed accurately and unambiguously, enabling faster settlement, proper classification of matters and timely submission of records to the J&K LSA.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold periodic physical and virtual reviews to monitor implementation of the action plan and to ensure continuous improvement in legal aid delivery across the district.