The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority, today launched the Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 at the North Zone Regional Conference on “Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals” held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.
Presiding over the event, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA, delivered a deeply inspiring address. He recalled the words of Kashmiri Sufi poet Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Mahjoor:
“व,लो हा बागवIनोों, नव बहारुक शान पैदा कर;
फू लन गुल घट करान, बुलबुल तिथे सामान पैदा कर ||”
In a speech that blended constitutional ethos with cultural symbolism, Justice Surya Kant invoked the words of Kashmiri poet Mahjoor, calling on the nation to “create the glory of a new spring” by fostering unity, compassion, and justice. He described the scheme as a historic milestone in NALSA’s 30-year journey and a tribute to the selfless service of India’s armed forces.
Justice Surya Kant emphasised that defence personnel and their families face legal challenges like any other citizen—land disputes, service matters, matrimonial issues but their unique service conditions often make access to justice more difficult. “Just as they guard our freedom, we must guard their rights,” he declared, grounding the initiative in Article 39A of the Constitution, which mandates equal access to justice.
He outlined the three pillars of the Yojana:
A network of Legal Services Clinics at the Zilla, Rajya, and Kendriya Sainik Boards.
A dedicated team of trained nodal officers, legal aid counsels, and PLVs, including ex-servicemen, to ensure empathetic, prompt legal assistance.
Digital integration through e-Lok Adalats, online mediation, and remote legal aid platforms, enhancing accessibility and speed.
Calling Kashmir the “valley of saints”, Justice Surya Kant said the launch from this sacred land symbolises a national message of legal empowerment and inclusion, especially for those who serve on the frontlines.
The event was also addressed by Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and graced by Supreme Court Judges Justice P.S. Narasimha, Justice Rajesh Bindal, and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh underscoring the judiciary’s united commitment to extending legal aid to defence families and tribal communities.
Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, praised the scheme as aligned with the Government’s vision of inclusive justice and digital empowerment. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha assured full support of the UT administration, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hailed NALSA’s initiative as a bold and compassionate step toward coordinated justice delivery.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, and Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson of the Ladakh Legal Services Authority, also addressed the gathering, as did Lt. Gen. Pratik Sharma, Northern Army Commander, who acknowledged the scheme’s potential to transform the legal landscape for soldiers and their families.
The launch of Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 marks a constitutional reaffirmation of dignity, justice, and support for the families who stand behind India’s defenders—an embodiment of NALSA’s guiding motto: Access to Justice for All.