AMRITSAR: Amrinder Singh Grewal, District & Sessions Judge has visited and inspected the Central Jail Amritsar, wherein, the jail barracks, Jail Kitchen (Langar Ghar), Legal Aid Clinic were inspected. Ld. Sessions Judge also checked the kitchen where food for the under trial prisoners was cooked and tasted the food, which was found to be satisfactory. During the inspection Amardeep Singh Bains, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary and Ms. Supreet Kaur, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Amritsar had accompanied the District & Sessions Judge, Amritsar. Sh. Hemant Kumar Sharma, Jail Superintendent had also been present on the spot during the jail inspection.
It was announced on the public address system regarding the visit of undersigned in the jail and an announcement was also made to this effect that if any inmate wanted to put forward his/her grievance, he can come and explain, consequent to which, the inmates started appearing before the Ld. Session Judge. Ld. Sessions Judge heard the grievances of inmates and immediately the grievances of the jail inmates were taken up with the jail authorities and jail authorities were directed to resolve their grievances. The inmates were made aware about the free legal aid provided by Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar and were apprised that every inmate in the jail whether convict or under trial is entitled to free legal aid under Legal Services Authority Act, 1987. The inmate can fill up a simple application form and thereafter he is immediately provided a Legal Aid Defence Counsel. Similarly, in case a person is convicted by the court and intends to file appeal/revision against the order of conviction, he/she can also file an application in the office of District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar. It was further explained that all the expenses incurred during the case are borne by the District Legal Services Authority, Amritsa.
Further the jail inmates were made aware about the fact that there is a Legal Aid Clinic established at Central Jail, Amritsar where the Defence Legal Aid Counsels and the trained Para Legal Volunteers are deputed by the District Legal Services Authority, Amritsar, for any query related to their case they can visit the legal aid clinic and take assistance.
Apart from that, due to upcoming Diwali Festival, Ld. Sessions Judge Celebrated the Diwali festival with the minor children, who are accompanying their mothers in the Jail and have no one to look after in the families. Gift baskets containing soft toys, clay for play, eatables like sweets, chocolates, juices etc. were distributed amongst them. Further directions were issued to jail officers to arrange Entertainment activities for them.