MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE FINALIZED SOON

Jalandhar,

In consonance with the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in Criminal Appeal No. 1265/2017, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) today decided to constitute a five member committee for looking into every complaint received by the Police or Magistrate under section 498-A IPC.

A decision to this effect was taken by the committee in its meeting held under the Chairmanship of the District and Session Judge Jalandhar Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Garg, here at District Judicial Complex.

Presiding over the meeting the District and Session Judge said that as per the guidelines of Apex court the constitution and working of such committees might be reviewed from time to time and at least once in a year by the District and Sessions Judge of the district who was also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority. He said that the Committees would be constituted out of para legal volunteers/ social workers/ retired persons/ wives of working officers/other citizens who were found suitable and willing. He said that every complaint, under Section 498A received by the Police or the Magistrate be referred to and looked into by such committee adding that such committee would have interaction with the parties personally or by means of telephone or any other mode of communication including electronic communication.

The report of such committee would be given to the Authority by whom the complaint was referred to it latest within one month from the date of receipt of complaint. The committee may give its brief report about the factual aspects and its opinion in the matter adding that till report of the committee is received, no arrest should normally be effected.

The Committee, whose members would be finalized soon, would operate from ADR Centre Jalandhar. Likewise, the members of the committee might be given such basic minimum training as may be considered necessary by the Legal Services Authority from time to time. In Cases where a settlement was reached, it would be open to the District and Sessions Judge or any other senior Judicial Officer nominated by him in the district to dispose of the proceedings including closing of the criminal case if dispute primarily related to matrimonial discord.

Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Commissioner of Police Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Secretary DLSA Mr. Gurmeet Singh Tiwana, Additional District and Session Judge Mrs. Harveen Bhardwaj, Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr. Aasish Abrol, Deputy Commissioners of Police Mr. Rajinder Singh and Mr. Gurmeet Singh, District Attorney Mr. Satpal, General Assistant (GA) TO Deputy Commissioner Dr. Jai Inder Singh and Presiodent Bar Association Mr. Baldev Parkash Ralh.