Kerala
Sunday, Jul 16, 2006
Mission to impart legal awareness
http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/16/stories/2006071600300200.htm
| `The establishment of permanent adalats in all districts will help in settling disputes before they reach court.' |
Thomas P. Joseph
The objective of the District Legal Services Authority is to achieve justice socially, economically and politically through the process of law, its Chairman tells Biju Govind
After 16 years of practising as a lawyer at the Kottayam District Court, Thomas P. Joseph was appointed to the Bench in April 1992. "The Bar and the Bench are two sides of the same coin. Both are part of the legal profession," says Mr. Thomas, District and Sessions Judge, Kozhikode district.
In the last three years, Mr. Thomas was familiar to people of Kozhikode, as the Commission to inquire into the Marad incidents — the communal riots in January 2002 and the killings on March 2, 2003.
Mr. Thomas, who was directly selected to the post of District Court judge. was first posted as Additional District Judge in Thodupuzha, then as Additional District Judge in Kozhikode from 1995 to 1998, Thrissur from 1998 to 2001, North Paravoor for six months. He was District Judge in Manjeri from 2001 to 2004 and in Thalassery for a brief period before he took charge in Kozhikode in December 2004. The 54-year-old judge, who started his career under the guidance of the former judge K.T. Thomas, says the legal profession is an independent and noble profession "where you can exhibit your knowledge and skills and one which also provides you reasonably good sustenance in life."
In his present role as Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Mr. Thomas says one of the objectives of the Legal Services Authority is to achieve justice socially, economically and politically through the process of law.
Equal access to the law for the rich and poor is its motto. As such, free legal aid is given to those whose rights are violated.
"Legal literacy camps have been set up with the cooperation of local bodies and other voluntary associations. Awareness classes are also conducted at schools and colleges," he says. Mr. Thomas feels the public are now showing a keen interest in legal awareness and literacy camps, which enables them to make use of the Alternate Dispute Redressal means to settle cases. Legal education in schools and colleges conducted under its auspices is also gaining momentum.
"The establishment of permanent adalats in all districts will help in settling disputes before they reach court. A notification has already been issued to set up one in the State capital." He says the people are not properly making use of the facility for pre-litigation settlement. Most of the cases relate to banks and other financial institutions. Similarly, the free legal cell meant for the women and weaker sections is also not fully utilised. At the same time, the functioning of the free legal aid clinics set up at the Mukkom grama panchayat in the district is encouraging. "The Deputy Director of Panchayats has been asked to inform all local bodies to set up such units."
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"Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power.
It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality."
- Dr BR Ambedkar
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