SRINAGAR: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Justice N Kotishwar Singh on Thursday visited the Central Jail Srinagar to assess the quality of legal aid services being provided to prisoners.

Justice Singh who is also Patron-in-chief, J&K Legal Services Authority, was accompanied by his Principal Secretary, M K Sharma and Member Secretary J & K Legal Services Authority, Amit Gupta.

Chief Justice had rounded all the barracks and interacted extensively with the inmates, assessed the condition of prisoners and patiently listened to their grievances and concerns.

The Chief Justice assured the inmates that their genuine grievances shall be redressed and also issued on spot instructions to the concerned to ensure that the grievances projected by the jail inmates are addressed at the earliest.

During the visit, the Chief Justice engaged in constructive discussions with prison officials, legal aid volunteers, and inmates of Central Jail Srinagar. During interaction all the jail inmates admitted that they are being represented in the respective courts either by the counsel engaged by them or by counsel provided by the respective District Legal Services Authorities, wherever their cases are pending.

To gauge the effectiveness of the VC facility available in the Central Jail, the Chief Justice directed the jail authorities to connect the District Court Srinagar and interacted with the System Assistant and expressed satisfaction about the quality of the Video Conference Facility.

The Chief Justice also emphasized the significance of safeguarding the fundamental rights of prisoners, ensuring their access to justice, and offering them adequate legal support.

The Chief Justice also inspected the Legal Aid Clinic within the Central Jail Srinagar and expressed his satisfaction with the functioning of it. The Chief Justice also inspected the Medical Facility unit, Recreational Facility, Tailoring unit, Gymnasium, Carpentry Unit, Vet Canteen, Mulaqaat Centre, Calling Booth and other facilities available at the Central Jail. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri separatist group All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Friday appealed to the central government to release Kashmiri prisoners on humanitarian grounds so that their families can actually celebrate Eid.

In a statement, APHC alleged that hundreds of Kashmiris including Hurriyat leaders and activists, journalists, rights activists, students, and youth have been jailed under one pretext or another.

“It is extremely painful that their trials are either delayed or are moving at an extremely slow pace. Many among the detainees are suffering from various ailments and serious health conditions due to prolonged stay in jails, causing great distress to their families and friends,” the statement said.

The APHC appealed for their release.

“APHC once again appeals to the Government of India to release them on humanitarian grounds so that their families can actually celebrate Eid,” the statement said

APHC also called for the unconditional release of its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who, they said, is under "arbitrary and illegal" house arrest since August 5, 2019. (UNI)