Goemkarponn Desk
VALPOI: The Gram Nyayalaya at Valpoi was inaugurated today by the Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairman of the North Goa District Legal Services Authority, Shri Irshad A. Agha. The event, organized by the District & Sessions Court of North Goa in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, was held at the Administrative cum Commercial Building, Valpoi.
Shri A. Agha emphasized that the purpose of the Gram Nyayalaya is to deliver speedy justice at the grassroots level. “Criminal and civil cases will be addressed through a mobile vehicle that will travel to various locations,” he explained. This initiative aims to assist citizens who cannot afford to visit conventional courts, providing them with access to legal advocates and the justice they deserve.
Advocate Shri Yeshwant Gauns, President of the Valpoi Lawyers’ Forum, highlighted the importance of accessible justice, stating, “It is a fundamental right of every citizen to receive justice.” He praised the innovative approach of bringing justice directly to villages.
The program also included informative sessions on legal aid schemes by Advocate Shivaji Dessai, and discussions on schemes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by Mr. Sashikant Narvekar and Mr. Bhingo Gawas, respectively.
The function was compered by Smt. Anuradha Andrade, Ad-hoc Senior Civil Judge & JMFC, Bicholim with Shri Waseem Rizvi, Civil Judge Junior Division and JMFC, Bicholim, delivering the vote of thanks.
Notable attendees included Shri Rajan Sawaikar, Advocate, Valpoi; Smt. Shantashri Sinai Kudchadkar, Secretary, District Legal Service Authority, North Goa; various officials from the court, Students and others.
The Gram Nyayalaya, established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, aims to ensure that justice is accessible to rural populations, particularly in remote areas. With jurisdiction over the Gram Panchayats of Sattari Taluka, the court can operate as a mobile unit; bringing justice directly to the communities it serves.
This initiative underscores the commitment to providing speedy, affordable dispute resolution and enhancing legal awareness, ensuring that no citizen is denied access to justice due to social or economic barriers.