Judge inspects Amritsar Central Jail, informs inmates about legal aid

Administrative Judge, Sessions Division, Anupinder Singh Grewal, today visited the Central Jail here. He inspected the barracks, kitchen (Langar Ghar), prison legal aid clinic and jail hospital.

He also tasted the food to check the quality and found it to be satisfactory.

Amarinder Singh Grewal, District and Sessions Judge, and Amardeep Singh Bains, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Sevices Authority (DLSA), accompanied him during the inspection.

Jail Superintendent Hemant Sharma and Assistant Jail Superintendent Kanwar Surteg Singh were also present during the inspection.

The Administrative Judge also inaugurated Radio Ujala within the jail premises.

Several inmates appeared before him to express their grievances which were taken up with the jail authorities. The inmates were guided about free legal aid services being provided by the Punjab State Legal Services Authority at the Prison Legal Aid Clinic. They were also informed that all the inmates in the jail, whether convict or undertrial, are entitled to free legal aid under Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.

They were told that an inmate can submit a simple application for getting a free legal aid counsel. Similarly, in case a person is convicted by the court and intends to file appeal/revision against the order of conviction, he/she can also file an application in the office of District Legal Services Authority or Prison Legal Aid Clinic in Central Jail, Amritsar.

It was further explained that all the expenses incurred during the case are borne by the District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar.

A “Neem” sapling was also planted on the occasion under the “Ek Ped, Maa Ke Naam” initiative by him.