Srinagar, Jul 26: On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and the J&K Legal Services Authority, hosted a landmark regional event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
The conference marked the launch of the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana – 2025 and the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel & Tribals: Bridging the Gaps.”
The programme was presided over by Hon’ble Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA. Among the distinguished guests were Arjun Ram Meghwal, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Justice; Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of J&K; Hon’ble Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh; Omar Abdullah, Hon’ble Chief Minister; Hon’ble Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority; Hon’ble Justice Sindhu Sharma, Executive Chairperson, Ladakh Legal Services Authority; Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command; as well as other sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, senior military leadership, and members of civil society.
In her welcome address, Hon’ble Justice Sindhu Sharma, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairperson, Ladakh Legal Services Authority, outlined the twin objectives of the conference—justice for defence families and tribal communities—as moral and constitutional imperatives. She described the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana as a symbol of national gratitude and empathy, aimed at providing legal support through clinics run by trained ex-servicemen acting as Nyaya Mitras.
Chief Justice Arun Kumar Palli, in his keynote address, drew attention to the neglect of protective provisions under the Army, Navy and Air Force Acts, calling for their urgent revival and implementation. He announced the development of a Digital Case Management System (DTCMS) tailored for the needs of defence personnel.
Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C Northern Command, spoke movingly of the practical and psychological burdens soldiers face due to legal proceedings during deployment, and praised the initiative as a transformative, morale-boosting reform.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, emphasized the constitutional imperative of tribal inclusion and access to justice. He announced the creation of 22 Samvad Units under the Samvad Scheme – 2025, a NALSA initiative to ensure legal services reach Scheduled Tribes and nomadic groups. Innovations under the scheme include mobile legal vans, tribal paralegal volunteers, and mobile hospital partnerships.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in his special address, endorsed institutional reforms for both defence and tribal communities. He announced a ₹98 crore allocation for tribal welfare, the establishment of legal clinics in tribal belts, and a plan to set up a National Law University in Jammu & Kashmir with an initial ₹50 crore budget.
Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to Kargil martyrs and cited the Mahabharata: “Where there is dharma, there is justice, and where there is justice, there is victory.” He highlighted the impact of post‑2019 legislative reforms and announced the introduction of Sainik Sahayata Cells in the civil secretariats of Jammu and Srinagar.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal congratulated the High Court and NALSA on the timing and ambition of the initiative, calling it a “first-of-its-kind effort” and stressing the need for justice to go beyond legal formalities and permeate societal structures.
In his presidential address, Justice Surya Kant invoked the poetry of Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor — “Valo ha Bhagwano, nov baharuk shan paida kar” — urging a new spring of justice and dignity. He credited the J&K Legal Services Authority with conceptualizing the scheme, reiterated the prioritization of ex-servicemen as paralegal volunteers and counsels, and reaffirmed NALSA’s commitment to localized, compassionate justice delivery.
A key highlight of the event was the distribution of engagement letters to Veer Naris and ex-servicemen formally joining the scheme as paralegal volunteers. The logo of the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana – 2025 was unveiled, and a special kiosk promoting traditional Ladakhi handicrafts was inaugurated by Justice Surya Kant and accompanying judges.
Additionally, three Mobile Hospital Camps launched by the Ladakh Legal Services Authority were virtually flagged off by Justice Surya Kant, Justice Sindhu Sharma, and the Northern Command Commander. Organized by the District Legal Services Authority Kargil in collaboration with the District Health Department and Army Medical Corps, these camps will serve nomadic and remote populations.
A special message of blessings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama added a deeply spiritual note to the day’s proceedings.
Before the vote of thanks, the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana – 2025 was officially rolled out by all present judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, senior defence officials, and dignitaries.
Dr. Ajit Atri, Director, NALSA, delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the collective efforts of the judiciary, government, legal services institutions, and military leadership in building a future‑focused, inclusive, and compassionate justice delivery framework.
The event concluded with two technical sessions — one on the rights of Armed Forces personnel, and the other on expanding legal access for tribal communities — featuring leading judges, senior advocates, military officers, and bureaucrats.
‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana’ launched
