Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Sept 30: In compliance to the activities calendar issued by State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority organised legal awareness programme on “Alternate Dispute Resolution” methods and fundamental duties of the citizens.
The function was organised in Government Degree College Poonch and members of civil society, lawyers, students and teachers of the college and Government officers participated in the function.
District Development Commissioner Poonch Haroon Malik presided over the function while Tahir Khurshid Raina, Principal District and Sessions Judge Poonch and Chairman District Legal Services Authority Poonch was the chief guest on the occasion.
In his address, Tahir Raina dealt in detail the concept of ADR and fundamental duties. He said that ADR includes conciliation, mediation, arbitration and Lok Adalat. He said that courts are now legally enjoined to resort to all these methods for resolving the disputes at the very inception of the proceedings in the case.
“They are all meant to ensure speedy justice”, Mr Raina said, adding lakhs of cases have been resolved by resorting to these methods by Indian judiciary. He further said that Lok Adalat is not a new concept but was known to Indian jurisprudence much earlier and tremendously proved boon in ensuring speedy justice. He said burgeoning pendency of cases in courts is a challenge to Indian judiciary but this institution has not shown Nelson’s eye to it but has taken all measures to surmount this challenge and ADR is a right step in that direction.
On the issue of fundamental duties, Mr Raina said these are just reminders of obligations, which our respective religions also teach us to perform. He said if duties will be performed in letter and spirit, they will automatically ensure safety and protection of fundamental rights of the people. He said, “it’s now time we should emphasise more on duties as well and introduce it in the curriculum of higher classes”.
The programme was conducted by Secretary DLSA Wajhat Kazmi, District Mobile Magistrate and vote of thanks was presented by Secretary Bar Association Poonch Anjum.
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