Legal Aid Defence Counsel Scheme launched in Panchkula

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Panchkula, under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority and Haryana State Legal Services Authority, has launched the Legal Aid Defence Counsel Scheme (LADCS) in the district.

Aparna Bhardwaj, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, DLSA Panchkula, said the initiative marks a major milestone in strengthening the legal aid delivery mechanism and ensuring timely, effective legal representation for underprivileged persons.

A dedicated Legal Aid Defence Counsel Office has been set up in Room No. 25, Mini-Secretariat Building, near the District Courts, Panchkula. Working under the supervision of the DLSA, the office will handle criminal legal aid cases in a structured and efficient manner.

At a ceremony held at the ADR Centre, Bhardwaj administered oaths to the newly appointed counsel, including Pawan Kumar (Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel), Renu Bhardwaj, Anusha Jain, and Abhijit Singh (Assistant Legal Aid Defence Counsels).

The counsels will undertake legal aid cases of criminal nature, conduct remand duties, visit jail regularly, and ensure that no person in conflict with the law is denied legal representation due to financial or social constraints.

Emphasising on the significance of the initiative, Bhardwaj said the establishment of the LADCS office would bring qualitative improvement in legal aid delivery and advance the constitutional mandate of “Access to justice for all”.