*Launches Activity Calendar of JKLSA
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 29: Today, Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh officially opened the Judicial Enclave, featuring five well-appointed apartments for Judicial Officers, located at the District Court Complex in Kathua. The inauguration was attended by Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Administrative Judge of the Kathua district.
Also present were Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General of the High Court; MK Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice; Amit Gupta, Member Secretary of the J&K Legal Services Authority; as well as Judicial Officers based at the District Headquarters in Kathua.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of providing judicial officers with respectful residences close to the Court Complex. He urged for the swift completion of the ongoing Court Complex construction and other court buildings in the district so that operations can transition from current inadequate facilities, significantly benefiting stakeholders and facilitating faster, more efficient justice delivery.
Justice Rajnesh Oswal expressed satisfaction with the completion of the Judicial Enclave and praised the Chief Justice’s forward-thinking efforts in this initiative.
During his welcome address, Jatinder Singh Jamwal, Principal District and Sessions Judge of Kathua, welcomed the Chief Justice, Administrative Judge, and all other dignitaries, which included officials from the High Court Registry, the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Kathua.
He provided a brief overview of the Judicial Enclave and other infrastructural developments planned for the district.
Pravin Pandoh, Additional District Judge in Kathua, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries and highlighting Parvez Malik and his team for their commitment to the timely completion of this project.
The event was managed by Amandeep Kour, Special Mobile Magistrate of Kathua.
In a notable move to enhance legal awareness and guarantee justice access for everyone, Justice Tashi Rabstan launched the J&K Legal Services Authority’s 2025 Activity Calendar (Wall Hanging) in the presence of Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, who participated virtually from Srinagar.
The 2025 Activity Calendar acts as an extensive framework for planned legal awareness campaigns, legal aid initiatives, and outreach activities throughout J&K this year. It not only highlights key dates for National and Special Lok Adalats but also outlines awareness campaigns focusing on social justice, training for legal aid personnel, helpline information for improved accessibility, and efforts to enhance alternative dispute resolution methods.
While unveiling the calendar, the Chief Justice praised the J&K Legal Services Authority for its dedication to narrowing the gap between legal service institutions and those seeking legal aid, particularly among marginalized and underprivileged communities.
Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, reiterated the calendar’s significance for the timely implementation of legal aid programs and mentioned that it would serve as a strategic resource for organizing legal literacy campaigns, Lok Adalats, victim assistance programs, and pro bono services throughout the Union Territory.
During the event, discussions also took place regarding enhancements to legal aid systems, increasing digital outreach, and promoting legal literacy at the foundational level. The calendar places particular emphasis on providing legal assistance to prisoners, empowering women and children, raising awareness about cyber laws, environmental justice, rehabilitation of crime victims, and rolling out special campaigns initiated by NALSA.
