On Tuesday, August 21, 2018, Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) - East, in association with the office of District Magistrate (East) inaugurated a Legal Services Clinic at Senior Citizens Tribunal/Appellate Tribunal at the Office of District Magistrate (DM), Delhi. The move was initiated under the direction of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) with a view to ensure ‘Access to Justice’ for the senior citizens to improve the conditions of many vulnerable senior citizens and to cater their legal requirements.
Rakesh Tewari, Ld. District & Sessions Judge, East, A.S Jayachandra, Ld. District & Sessions Judge - Shahdara, Deepak Jagotra, Ld. District & Sessions Judge - North-East, Geetanjali Goel, Ld. Special Secretary, DLSA, The District Magistrate and Addl. District Magistrate, East and other dignitaries, namely, Pawan Kumar, Arvind Bansai and Akash Jain, Secretaries of DLSA (East, North-East and Shahdara) graced the occasion.
While addressing the gathering, Justice Geetanjali Goel said that, "we have specifically opened this legal clinic for senior citizens of this district though it will help other people too. In cases where senior citizens are being abused in any form or where they are being neglected or disgraced from their entity, through such legal clinic, we are working to assist them, look after them if they are alone or unable to get any legal aid in their support.”
Further, she said that “DLSA started this program in giving legal and social aid to these deprived old citizens. Those citizens whose annual salary is below two lakh can get free legal assistance in need. If any senior citizen is unable to get basic financial attention from their children or one who would get a share from his property, then such person can file in this tribunal in getting assistance in this regard.”
“We have trained paralegal volunteers in giving assistance in this regard by giving them training of basic laws. They will give aid in these tribunal’s clinics as advocates are not allowed to sit in these tribunals. We are looking forward to more clinics to be opened in other districts to assist and help the old people. North-East and Shahdara district have already opened such clinics,” she added.
“The aforesaid Legal Clinic is to facilitate the senior citizens to assert their legal rights and get them executed through appropriate authorities as per law,” Pawan Kumar said.
