A one-day orientation training programme for legal aid defense counsels was organised by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) and the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy under the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) offices at the High Court auditorium today.
Justice HS Thangkhiew who attended the programme as the chief guest emphasised that the LADCS embodies a transformative vision for legal aid in India, striving to ensure that justice is not a privilege for the few, but a fundamental right accessible to all.
The anticipated advantages of this innovative model include improved availability and accessibility of legal aid, timely consultations, and a professional approach to case management. The initiative aims not only to provide qualitative legal services from initial arrest through appeals but also to ensure regular visits to correctional facilities to cater to the legal needs of unrepresented inmates.
He also stressed on the Legal Services Authorities Act and NALSA roles in ensuring access to justice for all.
The participants were reminded that the LADCS was officially launched in nine districts on June 24, 2023 at Secondary School, Ri Bhoi district, the benefits of which have recently been rolled out to all the districts of the state.
He stated that, under the LADCS scheme young lawyers are able to gain great experience in courts. It also intends to engage students from law schools through internships, clinics of law colleges through which law students can be engaged with the legal aid defense counsel office to give them meaningful exposure to practical aspects of criminal law including preparing a defense strategy and doing legal research in various factual scenarios.
Some of the fields in which students can be involved are legal research in criminal cases, visiting scenes of crimes, interview with accused and their family members and other relevant persons, visit to prisons and legal aid clinics, associate with campaigns and to assist in sifting through all of the evidence collected by the prosecution and providing effective input for preparing defense strategy.
He further stressed that the legal aid defense counsel system, therefore, is not merely a mechanism for representation. It is a beacon of hope, a promise that every citizen, regardless of their socio-economic status, deserves an advocate—someone to champion their cause, to navigate the complexities of law, and to safeguard their rights.
Among others present were Justice Wanlura Diengdoh and Justice B. Bhattacharjee.
The programme included technical sessions on Overview of New Criminal Laws, Latest Case Laws on Criminal Procedure, Electronic/Digital Evidence.
