The newly constituted District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) of Vijayanagara district formally commenced operations on Saturday with the objective of providing speedy, free and accessible legal services to the public, particularly economically weaker and marginalised sections of society.

Inaugurating the new office at the Principal District and Sessions Court complex in Hosapete, Pradeep Singh Yerur of the Karnataka High Court and administrative judge for Vijayanagara district said the establishment of a separate legal services authority for the district marked a significant step towards ensuring quicker access to justice.

He noted that legal services for the region were earlier administered from the undivided Ballari district and said the new authority would enable people in Vijayanagara district to avail themselves of legal assistance more conveniently.

Judge Yerur said the effective functioning of the judicial system depended not only on judges but also on lawyers, the police, the civil administration and litigants working together. Referring to the four pillars of democracy, the legislature, executive, judiciary and the media, he said each played an important role in upholding the rule of law.

Stressing the need to make justice accessible to the last person in society, he said the district had a sizeable population of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward communities, farmers and labourers, for whom prolonged litigation could be financially burdensome. To address this, the authority has empanelled more than 64 advocates and para-legal volunteers to provide free legal aid, legal advice and assistance to eligible persons.

Mr. Yerur said the authority would not remain confined to its office but would also take legal services to the people’s doorstep. He said disputes would be encouraged to be resolved through pre-litigation counselling, mediation and conciliation so that cases could be settled amicably before reaching the courts.

Calling for greater public awareness on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said awareness programmes should be conducted in schools, colleges and villages to prevent sexual offences against children.

He also appealed to the public to participate in the State-wide plantation drive aimed at planting five crore saplings, including five lakh in Vijayanagara district, to promote environmental conservation. Even if not for the present generation, a healthy environment should be preserved for future generations, he said.

Recalling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of education, organisation, struggle and equal justice, Justice Yerur expressed confidence that the District Legal Services Authority would work continuously to ensure that legal assistance reached every deserving citizen.

Deputy Commissioner Kavitha S. Mannikeri urged the public, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged sections, to make full use of the services offered by the authority. She said the establishment of the DLSA would make free legal aid and legal counselling more accessible to poor and vulnerable people.

Principal District and Sessions judge K.M. Rajashekhar, Senior Civil judge and member-secretary of the District Legal Services Authority N. Subramanya, member-secretary of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority H. Shashidhar Shetty, District Bar Association president Gujjala Nagaraj, Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi, judicial officers and members of the bar were present.