Latest news with #DLSA
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Hans India
Awareness Program Held in Gadwal to Mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Gadwal: On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is observed globally on July 30, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), in coordination with the Rural Development Society (RDS) and various other organizations, organized an awareness program at the Gadwal Railway Station premises today. Speaking at the event, members of the Legal Aid Defense Councils emphasized that the primary goal of observing this day is to support victims of human trafficking, protect their rights, and ensure their safety. They noted that human trafficking has now become a critical human rights issue globally. The theme for this year is: 'Use and Abuse of Technology – Stop Trafficking, Protect Victims.' The message focuses on how technology can be leveraged to prevent trafficking and safeguard vulnerable individuals. Highlighting the severity of the issue, the speakers said that millions of women, children, and men worldwide fall victim to trafficking through deception, coercion, and false promises. These individuals often end up being exploited in forced labor, prostitution, and other forms of abuse. In India, particularly, women and young girls are commonly trafficked under the guise of job offers or marriage proposals. The speakers called for a unified effort by the government machinery, police departments, voluntary organizations, and social activists to strictly enforce anti-trafficking laws, identify victims, and ensure proper rehabilitation. The program saw the participation of Legal Aid Defense Council members Mr. V. Rajender, Mr. B. Srinivasulu, Mr. D. Lakshman Swamy, representatives from the Railway Police, and various non-governmental organizations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Delhi Prisons: Overcapacity And Staff Shortages Persist
New Delhi: To reduce the pressure on overcrowded jails, prisoners undergoing trials are often released on bail. Between 2019 and June this year, 5,197 undertrial prisoners were released from Delhi jails on the recommendation of the Undertrial Review Committee (UTRC) in this manner. UTRC reviews cases of prisoners to ensure they do not remain in jail for long. The system was established on the order of the Supreme Court in 2015. Each district-level committee is headed by the district and sessions judge, with the district magistrate, superintendent of police and secretary of the District Legal Services Authority as members. The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) plays a pivotal role in this regard. The identification of undertrial prisoners is carried out by legal aid clinics established by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in the city's 16 jails. The jail authorities send the details of undertrial prisoners eligible for bail to the DLSAs and DLSA advocates interact daily with the inmates. Each DLSA creates a list of inmates after verification and convenes the meeting of UTRC every quarter. On the basis of recommendations of UTRC, DLSAs provide free legal aid to all willing inmates to move applications for release in You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Through a robust mechanism for identification of eligible undertrial prisoners through UTRCs and ensuring their applications, including for bail or modification of bail conditions, before the trial courts or appellate court, DLSAs ensure legal representation to all inmates," said Rajeev Bansal, member secretary, DSLSA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 Best Cities for Living Undo DSLSA regularly holds meeting to monitor accurate identification of the undertrials under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority, said Abhinav Pandey, secretary (litigation), DSLSA. He explained that the Supreme Court had listed 14 categories of prisoners who could be released while NALSA had identified two categories. However, senior advocate HS Phoolka told TOI, "Releasing prisoners who are harmless to society can be released, but not repeat offenders. Trials are long and delayed, so the number of undertrial prisoners keep increasing. But I have seen cases where persons involved in 15/16 cases are released on bail and within months they commit another offence." According to the India Justice Report 2025, undertrial prisoners now make up 76% of the jail population in the country, up from 66% in 2012. As for jails in Delhi, the correctional facilities have reported 170% occupancy since 2012. In 2022, 15% of the jails had occupancy rates of over 250%. There was an overall prison staff shortfall of 27% with the city also showing the country's highest correctional staff vacancies (60%) and prison officers' vacancies (34%). There were 90 doctors for 18,000 prisoners, averaging 206 prisoners per doctor in Delhi jails. Despite being equipped with 100% video conferencing facilities, the over-reliance on incarceration, especially of undertrial prisoners, continues to clog the system, the report pointed out. Another report tabled in the Delhi Assembly earlier this year revealed that the 16 city jails with an original capacity of 10,085 prisoners housed around 19,000 prisoners. According to the report, in March, Tihar's Jail No. 1 held 2,436 inmates against its capacity of 565. Similarly, Jail No. 4, designed for 740 inmates, was home to 3,244. Only some jails had lower than capacity occupation. Of Mandoli's six jails, three were not fully occupied, with Jail No. 15, designated for high-security prisoners, holding 108 inmates against a capacity of 248. The number of undertrial prisoners is nearly eight times that of convicted inmates, with 17,118 undertrials at the end of 2024 compared with 2,235 convicted individuals. In March, chief minister Rekha Gupta announced plans to shift Tihar Jail to the outskirts and allocated Rs 10 crore in the 2025-26 budget for survey and consultancy related to the shift. Tihar Jail is one of India's largest prison complexes, established in 1958, comprising nine prisons spread over more than 400 acres. Calling the cramming of the city jails with undertrials a problem that needs to be dealt with in a holistic manner, senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey said, "It is linked with various other factors, such as judicial infrastructure, working of police and the courts. Govt needs to frame policies that can lower the burden of courts."
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Let us provide children with a nurturing environment, says judge at book launch on child protection laws in Ballari
'Merely enacting laws for child protection is not enough; we must also ensure a conducive environment for their overall development,' said K.G. Shanthi, Principal District and Sessions Judge and chairperson of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), on Saturday. She was speaking after releasing the book Laws for the Protection of Children at a programme, jointly organised by the DLSA, READS organisation, the School Education and Literacy, and the Forest Departments in Ballari. 'Children are akin to divine beings. We must provide a safe and nurturing environment in houses, schools, and neighbourhoods to help them thrive. It is unfortunate that issues such as child labour, begging, human trafficking, child marriage, and sexual abuse continue to persist in our society. Poverty and a lack of education are the main reasons for this,' she said. Ms. Shanti stressed that the role of NGOs was crucial in child protection. The newly launched book, published in collaboration with READS and various departments, would be made available in schools and libraries. 'Children must be made aware of child marriage and POCSO Act through daily school assemblies. They must take a pledge against child marriage,' she said. Highlighting the importance of environmental responsibility, she added: 'Under the campaign One Tree for Every Child, One Forest for Every School, each school should plant trees and children should be made caretakers of those trees. Just as laws are essential for children's rights, trees are essential for a healthy environment.' She also paid tribute to fallen soldiers on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. Deputy Commissioner Prashanth Kumar Mishra, who presided over the event, said greater emphasis was needed on educational development in Kalyana Karnataka. 'Awareness of laws protecting children must spread. Let us all join hands to eliminate child marriage in the district,' he said. READS executive director C. Tippeshappa delivered the introductory remarks. Former member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights H.C. Raghavendra introduced the book, while Janardhan, professor, Department of Development Studies, Kannada University, Hampi, conducted a workshop. As part of the One Tree for Every Child campaign, dignitaries planted saplings on the court premises before the formal event. The programme was attended by DLSA member secretary and senior civil judge Rajesh N. Hosamane, Assistant Conservator of Forests (Ballari division) Toshan Kumar, various district judges, officers from Education, Labour and Police Departments, DCPO and Childline staff, anganwadi supervisors, para-legal volunteers and heads of NGOs.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Ensure Perambalur village temple car passes through streets with Scheduled Caste residents: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) directed the Perambalur district administration to ensure that the car of the Vedha Mariamman Temple in Veppanthattai village is also taken through streets inhabited by Scheduled Caste (SC) reisdents during temple festivals. Justice P. Velmurugan issued the direction after the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) secretary measured the width of the streets, on the direction of the court, and filed a report stating that they were wide enough for the temple car to pass through without any difficulty. The judge quashed the Perambalur Revenue Divisional Officer's (RDO) June 3, 2025, peace committee proceedings, in which a few Scheduled Caste residents were made to sign an agreement stating that the temple car need not pass through their streets during this year's festival. He allowed a writ petition filed by two Scheduled Caste residents, S. Vinoth Kumar and R. Manivannan, to quash the RDO's proceedings as illegal and unconstitutional on the ground that it promotes discriminatory practices and denies the right to worship on the basis of caste. The judge also directed the Perambalur Deputy Superintendent of Police to deploy adequate number of police personnel in order to prevent law and order issues whenever the temple car is taken through the streets inhabited by the Scheduled Caste residents of the village. Justice Velmurugan had on June 11, 2025, directed the DLSA secretary to inspect the streets and measure their width since the district administration had taken a stand that the temple car was 3.6 metres wide, and that it would be difficult to manoeuvre it through the five-metre-wide streets. When the case was heard on Wednesday, a counsel for some of the Caste Hindus in the village raised objections to the inspection report filed by the DLSA. However, the judge rejected the objections and said the DLSA report clearly states that there is sufficient space for manoeuvring the temple car.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
Man gets 20-yr RI for raping 9-year-old girl
1 2 Berhampur: A special Pocso court here on Saturday sentenced a 30-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 9-year-old girl after kidnapping her from a village in Ganjam district about two years ago. Additional district-cum-special court judge Pranati Pattnaik also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convict, a co-villager of the survivor. "He will undergo imprisonment for an additional six months if he fails to pay the fine," said special public prosecutor Narayan Panda. The court also directed the district legal services authorities (DLSA) to pay a compensation of Rs 10.50 lakh to the survivor. The entire fine amount will be paid to the girl after recovery as per the CrPC provisions. "The court pronounced the judgment after recording the statements of nine witnesses, including the police and doctor, and based on the medical reports," said Panda. Sources said the convict raped the girl after forcibly kidnapping her from her house on Jan 13, 2023, when the other family members were watching a folk dance. After returning at night, they found the girl was not at home. During search, they found the girl coming from the back of the house, crying. She narrated her ordeal to her mother. The next day, her mother lodged an FIR in the local police station. Police registered a case against the man under different sections of BNS and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and arrested him. The accused was in judicial custody since his arrest.
