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Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at NALSA Conference 2025

We have taken major initiatives in J&K to ensure ease of justice to the members of Armed Forces and committed to provide legal aid to the tribal community: LG Sinha

LG calls upon State Legal Services Authorities to ensure that all possible legal aid reaches the army personnel, tribal community, deprived and vulnerable sections of society on time so that their lives become easier and their rights granted by the Constitution are protected

Constitution of India guarantees Justice, social, economic and political and one of the facets of providing Justice is access to justice to all the citizens and it is to be ensured that Justice reaches to the poorest of poor, who deserves it the most: LG Sinha

LG observed that before 2019 various central laws including two important central legislations namely the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were not applicable to J&K

Now, these laws have become applicable and tribal community has been empowered. We are extending all constitutional guarantees and protections to the members of Tribal population including access to justice by providing free and competent legal aid to them: LG Sinha

Amendment has been made in J&K Legal Services Authority, Rules 2020 to include Secretary, Zila Sainik Board as member of District Legal Services Authority to provide legal aid to soldiers: LG Sinha

Lieutenant Governor's Sainik Sahayta Kendra has been established and it is a dedicated institutional mechanism for facilitating the redressal of civilian grievances faced by soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, who are posted in the J&K, or who belong to the UT and are presently serving in other parts of the country: LG

I am confident that in this important conference, along with solutions to the challenges being faced at the district level, necessary interventions to make the common citizens aware of their rights under the Constitution will also be discussed: LG Sinha

NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, a dedicated legal services scheme for defence personnel, ex-servicemen and their families launched

SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today addressed the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals: Bridging the Gaps” organised by National Legal Services Authority, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and J&K Legal Services Authority, at Srinagar.


The event was graced by Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman National Legal Services Authority, Shri Justice Surya Kant; Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal; Chief Justice High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, Shri Justice Arun Palli; Chief Minister, Shri Omar Abdullah; Judge High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority, Shri Justice Sanjeev Kumar; Judge High Court J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairperson Ladakh Legal Services Authority, Smt. Justice Sindhu Sharma; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt. General Pratik Sharma; Hon’ble Judges of Supreme Court of India and Chief Justice of various States and UTs.

In his address, the Lieutenant Governor extended his felicitations to the legal luminaries, officials of National Legal Services Authority, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, J&K Legal Services Authority and everyone associated with the conference. He also paid tributes to the bravehearts of Kargil War.

“Constitution of India guarantees Justice, social, economic and political and one of the facets of providing Justice is access to justice to all the citizens and it is to be ensured that Justice reaches to the poorest of poor, who deserves it the most.

The justice system has been deeply rooted in the soul of India and played a pivotal to nation's progress. In our culture, the court is not merely an office of justice but a sacred temple of justice, dedicated to ensuring equal justice and access to the legal system for all, without discrimination,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor called upon the State Legal Services Authorities to ensure that all possible legal aid reaches the army personnel, tribal community, deprived and vulnerable sections of society on time so that their lives become easier and their rights granted by the Constitution are protected.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted key structural reforms taken in the past few years to establish social and economic justice in Jammu Kashmir.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that before 2019 various central laws including two important central legislations namely the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were not applicable to J&K.

Now, these laws have become applicable and tribal community has been empowered. We are extending all constitutional guarantees and protections to the members of Tribal population including access to justice by providing free and competent legal aid to them, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor, in his address, spoke on the major initiatives taken by the J&K administration to ensure ease of justice to the members of Armed Forces and reiterated its commitment to provide legal aid to the tribal community.

“Amendment has been made in J&K Legal Services Authority, Rules 2020 to include Secretary, Zila Sainik Board as member of District Legal Services Authority to provide legal aid to soldiers.

Furthermore, Lieutenant Governor's Sainik Sahayta Kendra has been established and it is a dedicated institutional mechanism for facilitating the redressal of civilian grievances faced by soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces, who are posted in the J&K, or who belong to the UT and are presently serving in other parts of the country”, the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that delay in justice means defeat of moral duties of legal services authorities at the grassroots level involved in helping the deprived and vulnerable sections.

“I am confident that in this important conference, along with solutions to the challenges being faced at the district level, the necessary interventions to make the common citizens aware of their rights under the Constitution will also be discussed,” the Lieutenant Governor further said, 

On the occasion, NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, a dedicated legal services scheme for defence personnel, ex-servicemen and their families, was launched. The scheme provides for establishing legal services clinics within Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards for rendering legal services and assistance to Veer Parivar.

The event also witnessed the launch of various initiatives including Defence Personnel Case Management System; Special Samvad Legal Units for tribal communities; Legal Services support centres at Rajya Sainik Boards of all states and UTs and Zila Sainik Welfare Boards across the Districts of UT of J&K and Ladakh; Unveiling of Logo and Tribal kiosks at Leh airport; Mobile medical camp for tribal population of Ladakh.

Certificates of engagement as Para legal volunteers by Legal Services Authorities of J&K and Ladakh were also handed over to Veer Naris and ex-servicemen.

Former Chief Justices, serving and retired Judges, senior officials of Legal Services Authorities, Security Forces, Police and Civil Administration, Veer Naris, ex-Servicemen, members from Legal fraternity, and prominent citizens from different walks of life were also present.

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NALSA Conference 2025

CM addresses North Zone Regional Conference of NALSA at SKICC

SRINAGAR, JULY 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today delivered the keynote address at the North Zone Regional Conference of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel & Tribals”held at SKICC Srinagar.

This constitutionally significant conference focuses on advancing the rights and entitlements of defence personnel and tribal communities—two segments of society that, in the Chief Minister’s words, “one defends the Constitution with unflinching resolve” and the other has “long waited for its full embrace.”

Addressing the audience at SKICC, CM said that this Regional Conference was of great  significance to deliberate and collectively reflect on the foundational promise of our Republic for realization of justice—social, economic, and political which is enshrined in the preamble and concretised in Article 39A of our Constitution, which enjoins the State to ensure that access to justice is not curtailed by economic or other disabilities.



 Paying tribute to the service and sacrifices of defence personnel, many of whom hail from Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for swift, compassionate legal redressal for those serving in inhospitable terrains under difficult circumstances. He highlighted the systemic legal barriers faced by defence personnel in matters such as pension disputes and service-related grievances owing to their geographic remoteness, and the distinct constraints of military life.

CM commended the J&K State Legal Services Authority for its initiative in amending its legal aid rules to expressly include serving and retired defence personnel. CM said that establishment of dedicated legal aid clinics in cantonments and in districts with significant ex-servicemen populations should be prioritised. “Equally important is the need to ensure that families of defence personnel—particularly widows, aged parents, and dependent children—receive empathetic, expert, and timely legal support,” CM said, adding that para-legal volunteers trained specifically in military legal issues should be deployed in areas with high defence populations. Simultaneously, technology must be harnessed to democratise access—through mobile apps, virtual consultation platforms, and user-friendly legal information portals. Justice, in our times, must not merely be available—it must be accessible.

On tribal communities, CM said that they were custodians of rich cultural and ecological heritage.  Jammu & Kashmir is home to several Scheduled Tribes, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Pahadis, Gaddis and Sippis, who have preserved ancient traditions while braving difficult terrains.

 “Our Government has correspondingly augmented its developmental efforts. This year, the capital expenditure for tribal welfare has been raised to ₹98 crores. Six Eklavya Model Residential Schools have been made operational, 222 smart classrooms have been established in tribal-dominated schools, and healthcare services have been expanded through mobile medical units. The Tribal Research Institute has also been commissioned. These interventions reflect our commitment to combine dignity with development. Yet, development alone cannot substitute justice. Structural barriers to legal literacy, representation, and redressal continue to persist among tribal populations—owing to linguistic, cultural, and geographic factors.

CM noted that the Legal Services Authority has commendably operationalised 255 legal aid clinics, including in tribal villages and correctional institutions, supported by 527 panel lawyers and 561 para-legal volunteers.

CM expressed the hope that para-legal volunteers are trained from within tribal communities themselves. “This will ensure that legal support is rendered in familiar idioms, dialects, and cultural frameworks. We must also expand mobile legal aid vans, promote the use of Tele-Law platforms, and facilitate virtual hearings. Justice, if it is to be meaningful, must reach every remote hamlet—from Poonch to Kishtwar, from Rajouri to Karnah,” he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also spoke about the sensitive balance that must be maintained between national security and the rights of tribal citizens. Many tribal regions are located in border belts or areas of heightened security oversight. However, law enforcement must not translate into legal disenfranchisement. Mechanisms for lodging complaints, accessing courts, and redressing grievances must be made transparent, timely, and responsive.

CM said that Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms also offer immense promise. Lok Adalats, mediation centres, and village-level panchayat forums, when duly sensitised, can provide swift, culturally respectful adjudication—especially in matters related to land rights, service entitlements, and local grievances. These models need to be institutionalised and resourced accordingly.

CM stated that capacity-building is essential for Judicial officers, legal aid lawyers, and field functionaries who must be trained in tribal customary law, military jurisprudence, and the ethics of constitutional service. Only through sustained cross-learning can our justice system be truly responsive to the diversity it is meant to serve.

Highlighting the Government’s vision, the Chief Minister informed that his Government has sanctioned establishment of a dedicated Law University in Jammu and Kashmir with an initial allocation of ₹50 crore. This institution will focus on specialized legal education and research in fields such as tribal law, military justice, constitutional studies, and environmental law.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Chief Minister concluded, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” He reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering support to Legal Services Authorities and their partners in delivering justice to the most marginalised

The conference was also addressed by Justice Surya Kant Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman NALSA; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State Ministry of Law and Justice Government of India; Manoj Sinha Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir; Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of High Court of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; Justice Sanjeev Kumar Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority; Justice Sindhu Sharma Executive Chairperson, Ladakh Legal Services Authority; Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.

The conference was attended by the members of the Judiciary, Mian Altaf Member of Parliament, members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Tribal Communities, Senior Officers of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and other States, and members of the Legal Fraternity.

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