‘Strengthen coordination between jail authorities, medical institutions’

Srinagar, Mar 11: In a significant step towards integrating legal aid services within the healthcare system and ensuring access to justice for all, a Legal Aid Clinic & Support Centre was inaugurated today at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar by Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh & Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority.

The centre was inaugurated in presence of Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority.

On their arrival, the Chief Justice and Justice Atul Sreedharan, accompanied by M. K. Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Justice, were warmly received by Shazia Tabassum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority; Tasleem Arief, Principal District & Sessions Judge (Chairman, DLSA Srinagar); Prof. (Dr.) Iffat Hassan Shah, Principal & Dean, GMC Srinagar; Jahangir Ahmad Bakhshi, Joint Registrar (Judicial/Protocol) Srinagar; Sajad-ur-Rehman, Secretary DLSA Srinagar; Superintendent GMC Srinagar; Mohd Ashrif Hakak, Administrator, GMC Srinagar; Medical Superintendent and Senior faculty members of GMC Srinagar; other Heads of Departments, and senior police officers.

Following the inaugural ceremony, a video conferencing session was held between the Superintendent of Central Jail Srinagar, the Medical Officer of the jail, and inmates from the Prison Legal Aid Clinic & Support Centre. The Chief Justice and Justice Sreedharan interacted with jail authorities and inmates to assess their legal and medical concerns, aiming to bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and specialized healthcare professionals for timely and effective medical interventions.

During the visit, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Sanaee, HOD Neurology; Dr. Naveed Nazir, HOD Pulmonology; and Dr. Showket Ahmad Zargar, HOD Gastroenterology, along with other senior medical professionals, interacted with the jail inmates through the Prison Legal Aid Clinic & Support Centre, addressing their medical concerns and offering expert guidance on their healthcare needs. The involvement of these specialists ensured a comprehensive assessment of health-related challenges faced by incarcerated individuals and their access to necessary treatment.

During the visit, the dignitaries engaged in meaningful discussions with faculty members, legal aid counsels, and medical professionals on the critical role of legal aid in upholding the rights of underprivileged individuals, particularly those in custody. Justice Atul Sreedharan emphasised that the integration of legal aid services with healthcare institutions would facilitate seamless medical assistance for jail inmates while safeguarding their fundamental rights to health and justice.

While interacting with stakeholders, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan underscored that the establishment of such a Legal Aid Clinic at GMC Srinagar represents a landmark initiative in ensuring access to justice, particularly for those unable to seek legal recourse due to incarceration.

Chief Justice further stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between jail authorities, medical institutions, and legal aid functionaries to provide holistic legal and medical support to inmates.

The event concluded with a firm commitment to ensuring that legal aid remains an integral part of healthcare services, reinforcing the collective resolve to serve the marginalized sections of society.