Peerzada Ummer
Srinagar, Jul 26: In a landmark step fusing poetic symbolism with legal reform, Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), launched the ‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025’ in Srinagar on Saturday.
The scheme is designed to provide proactive and accessible legal assistance to families of armed forces personnel serving in remote and conflict-prone areas of the country.
For the first time in Indian history, a comprehensive nationwide effort will ensure that legal burdens at home do not distract soldiers from their duties. Under the scheme, legal aid clinics staffed by trained paralegal volunteers and lawyers will be established at every district and state sainik board. Retired soldiers, Veer Naris (war widows), and ex-servicemen with legal backgrounds will be given preference for these roles.
Addressing North Zone Regional Conference of Legal Services Authorities here, Justice Surya Kant said, “You (soldiers) serve the nation at the borders. We will stand guard at your homes.”
He described Srinagar as a site rich with symbolism and sentiment for launching the program.
Justice Kant began his speech with an emotional explanation for choosing Kashmir as the location for this historic initiative. Quoting the revered Kashmiri poet Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor, he recited: “Walo ha baghawano, naw baharuk shaan paida kar; Pholan gul ghat karan, bulbul tethai samaan paida kar.” [“Come, O Gardener, create the glory of a new spring. Let flowers bloom in clusters and make the nightingales sing again.”]
“These verses capture the spirit of our scheme, which aims to bring dignity, peace, and legal security to the families of those who defend the nation’s borders. Our jawans are stationed in these mountains, always alert to safeguard the nation. It is only right that our commitment to their families also begins here.”
Justice Kant recounted his own experiences as a Supreme Court judge, recalling cases where families of soldiers suffered legal harassment while their loved ones were away serving the nation. Issues ranged from illegal encroachments on property, tenant disputes, forged ownership claims, to hurdles in accessing pensions or educational benefits.
“Even a stranger with no connection to the soldier can file a false case, and unfortunately, that happens. It should not be the soldier’s responsibility to take leave from duty to appear in court back home,” Kant said. “Aaj se yeh zimmedari humari hai.”
Justice Kant confirmed that NALSA has completed all necessary coordination with the Ministry of Defence, and legal aid clinics will become functional at all sainik boards, including in remote villages. Preference will be given to ex-servicemen and Veer Naris for the roles of paralegal volunteers and legal aid counsels, especially those with legal training.
“Humne retired army personnel aur Veer Naris ko amantrit kiya hai ki woh paralegal volunteers banein. “Unka anubhav unhein is kaam ke liye vishesh banata hai.” (We have invited retired army personnel and Veer Naris to become paralegal volunteers. Their lived experience makes them uniquely suited for this work.)
The scheme further addresses calls from legal aid communities in Ladakh and the Northeast by revising the honorarium for volunteers and legal aid counsels, sometimes doubling previous amounts. State legal services authorities may increase these payments further, depending on available funds.
“Yeh daan nahi, yeh rashtra ka dayitva hai. Aur legal aid ko sirf mukadma support samajhna galat hai. Yeh hamara samajik sankalp hai. (This is not charity. This is the nation’s obligation. Legal aid must not be seen as mere litigation support—it is our social commitment.”)
Marking NALSA’s 30th year, Justice Kant briefed on the organization’s journey and impact, particularly in rural and tribal areas, and hinted at a new legal empowerment initiative for tribal communities in Kashmir and Ladakh to be announced later in the day.
Justice Kant also highlighted the judiciary’s role as a public service while executing the Legal Services Authorities Act: “Hum yahan judge ki tarah nahi, jan seva ki tarah kaam kar rahe hain. Agar aap desh ki seemaon par seva kar rahe hain, toh nyay palika ko bhi aapke parivaar ki seva karni hogi.” “We are not acting as judges here. We are public servants carrying out a statutory duty given by Parliament. If you are serving the country at Siachen, the judiciary must serve your family back home.”
