The Legal Aid Clinic at the MIET School of Law was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Patron-in-Chief of J&K Legal Services Authority. He was accompanied by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and Executive Chairman of J&K Legal Services Authority and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Atul Shreedharan, Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh. Mr. Sanjay Parihar, Principal District Sessions Judge and companion judges also graced the occasion with their presence. Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director MIET, Mrs. Ruchika Gupta, Joint Director, Prof. Sunita Koul, Dean MIET School of Law and Prof. Sahil Sawhney, GM Strategic Initiatives were also present on the occasion. Over 240 students from the MIET School of Law attended the event.
The legal aid clinic is a significant initiative at the MIET School of Law in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority and the District Legal Services Authority, Jammu. This clinic aims to enhance access to justice for the underprivileged and provide practical legal experience to law students. On this occasion, an awareness program on the “Access to Justice through Legal Service and the Role of Law Students” was also organized.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, in his Presidential address, emphasized the importance of every citizen of India remembering the preamble to the Constitution of India, which defines our core values as a nation and people. He lauded the MIET School of Law for provisioning high-quality infrastructure for the Legal Aid Clinic and promised the full support of the J&K Legal Services Authority in ensuring that the Legal Aid Clinic meets its stated objectives to reach out and help the marginalized. He also highlighted the challenges confronting the legal system in the country and outlined the initiatives that the students at MIET School of Law can undertake to play a constructive role in transforming the legal system while alleviating the suffering of the poor.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tashi Rabstan, in his special address, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in fostering a sense of responsibility among law students towards society. He outlined the specific provisions of law under which legal aid must be provided to each citizen of the country. He reiterated the continuous support from the J&K Legal Services Authority in organizing workshops and training sessions for the students to enhance their skills and knowledge. He also congratulated the MIET School of Law in taking the lead in the region in operationalizing the Legal Aid Clinic and wished the students all the best in making a real difference to society.
Prof. Ankur Gupta, Director MIET, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the significance of the clinic in representing the unrepresented and ensuring access and equity. He described having three serving justices at a single event as a privilege for the students of law and sought their blessings for the continued success of the MIET School of Law in producing high-quality legal professionals in the region. He later presented mementos to all the distinguished guests.
An insightful talk on the topic “Access to Justice through Legal Services and the Role of Law Students” was delivered by Ms. Aasmi Abrol, a third-year student from the BBA-LLB (Hons) batch, emphasizing the crucial role of legal aid in promoting social justice. Her talk was much appreciated by the Chief Justice.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Smt. Smriti Sharma, Secretary of DLSA Jammu, and was conducted under the supervision of Mr. Amit Gupta, Member-Secretary, J&K State Legal Services Authority. Ms. Arushi Gupta from MIET compered the event.
