Lawyers for Human Rights open legal clinic for poor

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 28

The Lawyers for Human Rights International opened a legal clinic for the poor and drug affected families near the Golden Temple here today. The office was inaugurated by the organisation’s state secretary, Navkiran Singh.

Talking about the concept, Amritsar chapter president Parminder Singh Sethi said, “The idea is to provide assistance to the poor and drug affected families, besides running a social campaign for eradication of the problem.”

Sethi said they would initiate a movement to request Akal Takht Jathedar to issue a Hukamnama stating expulsion of drug sellers and peddlers from the Sikh Panth.

He said, “We will ensure that drug users are treated as victims and not criminals. They need medical attention, but instead they are being sent to jails. A maximum number of cases in courts these days are related with the NDPS Act.”

Another member of the team Kirpal Kaur said, “We will be fighting for these victims in courts as well as create public opinion on this issue. If Akal Takht Jathedars issue such an edict for expulsion of drug sellers it will be a big milestone.”

She said a team of over 50 young advocates had volunteered to render their services at the clinic. Members of the organisation said a decade ago the Maqboolpura area was labelled as colony of windows due to high prevalence of drugs and death rate, but the government had failed to improve the situation.