Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 09 November 2023
National Legal Service Day was commemorated with fervour at the District level by the District Child Protection Unit, Office of the Deputy Commissioner, N&M Andaman, hosted at Mahatma Gandhi Government College (MGGC), Mayabunder. The event, held on the 9th of November 2023, aimed at promoting legal awareness and providing free legal aid to the community.
Under the guidance of Mr. Ankit Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman, the program witnessed enthusiastic participation from the students of Mahatma Gandhi Government College. The distinguished gathering included Mr. Subhajit Basu, Hon’ble Additional District and Sessions Judge, N&MA, Mayabunder, as the chief guest, and Mr. Ashish Joon, Assistant Commissioner (HQ), Mayabunder, as the guest of honour. Special guests included Mr. Tarun Kumar Mondal, Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum Civil Judge, N&MA, Mayabunder, Dr. P.K. Palit, Medical Officer (i/c), Dr. R. P. Hospital, Mayabunder, and Dr. Swapan Kumar Biswas, Principal (i/c), MGGC Mayabunder.
National Legal Service Day, observed annually, serves the purpose of raising legal awareness among people from diverse backgrounds. The emphasis is on ensuring that individuals, regardless of their background or identity, have access to free legal aid. Often, those from marginalised communities, women, children, and minorities lack legal knowledge, and this day seeks to bridge that gap by educating them about their rights and available legal services.
During the program, the college students showcased various cultural activities and skits, contributing to the legal awareness campaign. A total of 300 college students actively participated in these endeavours.
Addressing the gathering, the chief guest, Mr. Subhajit Basu, highlighted the theme of the event, ‘Access to Justice for All: Empowering the Marginalised through Legal Awareness.’ The guest of honour, Mr. Ashish Joon, underscored the significance of National Legal Service Day in promoting legal consciousness. Special invitees delved into various critical issues such as Child Rights, Free Legal Aid, Right to Information, and Right to Education.
The celebration at Mahatma Gandhi Government College served as a commendable initiative in spreading legal awareness and empowering the marginalised sections of society.