Mangaluru: A ‘legal help desk’ has been opened at Mangaluru The District Jail shall provide free legal aid to prisoners in minor cases, excluding those involved in serious criminal offences, and support their families.
District and Principal Sessions Judge Basavaraj inaugurated the center on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Basavaraj said that the District Legal Services Authority has already provided free legal aid and that setting up the facility within the jail premises would make legal aid more accessible to inmates and their families.
District legal services authority member secretary Zaibunnisa said legal technicalities often prevent family members from meeting prisoners, which can also delay bail proceedings. In such situations, prisoners and their relatives can now get free legal advice and support through the newly established centre.
She added that the facility would also allow inmates’ families to communicate with inmates twice a week through the center.
The help desk will be open daily from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 17:30. Three lawyers have been appointed to provide legal advice and guidance to the families of the accused. In addition, the authority has appointed 10 legal volunteers to support the initiative. However, the facility will not provide assistance to accused in murder, POCSO, main NDPS and rape cases. Persons accused in other categories of cases will be entitled to legal support through the center.
Mangaluru Jail Chief Inspector Sharana Basappa, Advocates Raviraj, KSISF Inspector Subhash and Centre’s Consultant Dennis D’Souza were present.
