SRINAGAR: Emphasising the need for accessible, coordinated and victim-sensitive justice mechanisms, the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA), under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), on Saturday organised a mega awareness programme on “Empowering Women and Strengthening Institutional Legal Support” at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
The event brought together senior members of the judiciary, legal service institutions, government departments, police, health and welfare agencies to deliberate on measures aimed at strengthening legal awareness and institutional support systems for women and girl children.
Among those present were Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman of NALSA; Justice SVN Bhatti, Judge of the Supreme Court and Supervising Judge for the J&K Legal Services Authority; Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairman of JKLSA; and Justice Sanjay Dhar, Judge of the High Court and Chairperson of the High Court Legal Services Committee.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Vikram Nath said the effectiveness of legal services institutions should be measured by their ability to ensure that people in distress can approach the justice system without fear, are treated with dignity and receive timely legal assistance.
He stressed the need to strengthen legal literacy, institutional coordination and grassroots outreach so that constitutional and statutory safeguards become meaningful realities for women and girl children. Justice Nath also urged that the deliberations and recommendations emerging from the conference be translated into vernacular languages and circulated among stakeholders to facilitate implementation at the grassroots level.
In his special address, Justice S.V.N. Bhatti highlighted the importance of functional grievance redressal mechanisms, trained stakeholders and victim-sensitive procedures. He observed that women and children should not be forced to navigate fragmented systems or repeatedly recount traumatic experiences before multiple authorities. Clear referral pathways, confidentiality and accountability, he said, were essential for effective legal empowerment.
Delivering the inaugural address, Justice Sanjeev Kumar underscored that access to justice could not be assessed merely by the existence of laws and institutions. He called for stronger grassroots outreach through Front Offices, Legal Aid Clinics, panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers to ensure that people in need are guided towards appropriate remedies without procedural difficulties.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar also stressed the importance of convergence among institutions dealing with women in distress and recalled the Legal Services Authority’s intervention following the devastating 2005 earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that judicial officers had conducted Lok Adalats in affected areas, enabling compensation claims and insurance settlements to be resolved closer to impacted communities.
Justice Sanjay Dhar, in his address, observed that the true test of justice lies not merely in recognising rights in law but in ensuring that those rights can be understood, accessed and effectively enforced. He said the manner in which a woman is received by the first institution she approaches reflects the constitutional character of the justice system and stressed the need for confidentiality, sensitivity and prompt assistance.
During the programme, the dignitaries released “Endeavour-2025”, the annual newsletter-cum-compendium documenting legal services initiatives and activities undertaken across the Union Territory during the year.
The dignitaries also flagged off Multi-Utility Vehicles for District Legal Services Authorities across Kashmir. The vehicles are intended to strengthen mobile legal services and facilitate legal awareness and aid programmes in remote and underserved areas.
The programme featured two technical sessions. The first session, chaired by Justice Vikram Nath and co-chaired by Justice S.V.N. Bhatti, focused on women’s rights, legal empowerment and access to justice. Discussions centred on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.
Participants deliberated on ensuring safe workplaces, effective functioning of Internal and Local Committees, child-friendly procedures under the POCSO Act, protection of privacy and identity, reproductive rights, confidentiality and timely access to lawful medical care. The role of legal services institutions in facilitating awareness and early intervention was also discussed.
The second technical session, chaired by Justice Sindhu Sharma and co-chaired by Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, focused on institutional support systems, victim assistance and convergence mechanisms for women in distress.
Justice Sindhu Sharma emphasised the need for a coordinated and compassionate institutional response centred on the dignity, safety and rehabilitation of survivors. Speakers highlighted that justice extends beyond the registration of a case or conclusion of a trial and often requires simultaneous access to medical care, counselling, legal representation, shelter, compensation and rehabilitation.
The session also examined emerging challenges such as cyberstalking, online impersonation, misuse of images, digital blackmail and other forms of technology-enabled abuse. Participants stressed the importance of prompt reporting, preservation of digital evidence and victim-sensitive handling of complaints.
In her concluding remarks, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi said convergence among institutions becomes meaningful only when responsibilities are clearly defined, timelines are adhered to and victims receive continuous support throughout the process.
The programme was attended by judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, former judges, judicial officers, NALSA officials, representatives of the civil and police administration, academicians and officers from various government departments and institutions.
The welcome address was delivered by Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, JKLSA, while the vote of thanks was presented by Haq Nawaz Zargar, Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority, Srinagar.
