Guntur DLSA organises National Legal Services Day

Every citizen has the right to know their legal rights and access justice, irrespective of where they live, said District Principal Judge and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) chairman B. Sai Kalyan Chakravarthi.

Speaking at the National Legal Services Day organised by the DLSA in Guntur on Monday (November 9, 2026), he said the Legal Services Authorities Act served as a bridge between the government and beneficiaries by ensuring free legal assistance, promoting legal awareness, and facilitating dispute resolution through Lok Adalats. “Reaching people in remote areas and making them aware of their rights is one of the primary objectives of the authority,” he said.

He emphasised that justice was not limited to punishing offenders, as innocent victims of crimes were also entitled to compensation. Lok Adalats were helping accident victims and their families secure speedy relief in motor vehicle accident cases. They were also facilitating settlements in long-pending civil disputes, he added.

DLSA Secretary Syed Ziyauddin said four National Lok Adalats had settled 90,922 cases, including 5,899 civil and 85,033 criminal cases, involving ₹370.65 crore. Guntur had secured the first position in civil case disposal for the sixth consecutive time by settling 1,784 cases at the March 14, 2026, Lok Adalat.

The authority had conducted 1,120 legal-awareness programmes and resolved 124 cases through the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System. He cited interventions that helped a minor girl resume her education after counselling and provided protection to a woman at a One Stop Centre.

First Additional District Judge V.A.L. Satyavathi, Bar Association president M. Nageswara Rao, and Bar Council members V. Brahma Reddy and Shantha Kumar also spoke. Judges, advocates, para-legal volunteers, and DLSA staff attended the programme.

Published - November 09, 2026 07:42 pm IST