MSLSA organizes one-day orientation training for legal aid defense counsels

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 5, 2024

The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) and the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy conducted a One-Day Orientation Training Programme for Legal Aid Defense Counsels under the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) on October 4 at the Auditorium of the High Court of Meghalaya in Shillong.

The event’s Chief Guest, Justice HS Thangkhiew, Judge of the High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman of MSLSA, highlighted the transformative vision behind the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System. He emphasized that the system ensures justice is accessible to all, not just a privilege for a select few. The model aims to improve the availability and accessibility of legal aid, offer timely consultations, and provide a professional approach to case management. It seeks to deliver quality legal services from the time of arrest through appeals and ensure regular visits to correctional facilities to meet the legal needs of unrepresented inmates.

Justice Thangkhiew also underscored the importance of the Legal Services Authorities Act and the role of NALSA in guaranteeing access to justice for all.

Participants were reminded that LADCS was first launched in nine districts on 24th June 2023 at Patharkhmah Government Higher Secondary School in Ri-Bhoi district, and its benefits have since been extended to all districts of the state. He added that the LADCS scheme allows young lawyers to gain valuable experience in court and aims to engage law students through internships and law school clinics. These students will gain practical exposure to criminal law, defense strategies, and legal research in various cases. Some of the fields in which students can be involved include conducting legal research in criminal cases, visiting crime scenes, interviewing accused individuals and their family members as well as other relevant persons, visiting prisons and legal aid clinics, participating in ongoing legal campaigns, and assisting in reviewing the evidence collected by the prosecution to provide valuable input for preparing defense strategies.

Justice Thangkhiew described the legal aid defense counsel system as more than just a representation mechanism, calling it a beacon of hope that ensures every citizen, regardless of socio-economic status, has an advocate to navigate the complexities of law and protect their rights.

Also present at the event were Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge of the High Court of Meghalaya and Chairman of HCLSC, and Justice B. Bhattacharjee, Additional Judge of the High Court of Meghalaya.

The programme featured technical sessions on key topics, including an overview of new criminal laws presented by K.M.L. Nongbri, Director of the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy, along with N.I. Dkhar, Deputy Director of the academy. B. Kharlukhi, Secretary of DLSA, East Khasi Hills District, spoke on latest case laws on criminal procedure, while F.S. Sangma, District & Sessions Judge and Chairman of DLSA, South Garo Hills District, spoke on electronic and digital evidence.

Legal Aid Defense Counsels, Legal-cum-Probation Officers from across the state’s districts, and law students actively participated in the training.