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The meeting was conducted in virtual mode and was attended by the Learned Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, Superintendent, District Jail Udhampur and the Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC), Udhampur.
The aim of the meeting was to ensure the effective implementation of the said judgment, which reaffirms that prisoners continue to enjoy their fundamental rights and must be provided timely legal aid and fair legal procedures under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The participants deliberated on the need to strengthen coordination among the High Court Legal Services Committee (Jammu/Srinagar), District Jail, Udhampur and the LADC, Udhampur, with a view to eliminating delays in filing legal‑aid applications, appeals, revisions, and other related proceedings on behalf of incarcerated persons.
It was unanimously decided to conduct a prompt review of the legal‑aid status of all inmates in District Jail, Udhampur, and to prepare a joint action plan with clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the digital transmission and monitoring of case records. It was further resolved to hold periodic review meetings in the virtual mode at regular intervals to monitor compliance, address bottlenecks, and ensure that the directions of the Supreme Court in Shankar Mahto vs State of Bihar are fully implemented in practice.