Punjab: Legal Services Authority helps 406 unrepresented convicts file appeals

Punjab: Convicts and undertrials languishing in Punjab jails without any representation despite being entitled to free legal aid are finally getting relief. The Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PULSA) has filed criminal appeals in 406 cases on their behalf. This intervention is the result of a nationwide “mission mode” initiative launched under the guidance of Justice Surya Kant, a Supreme Court judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA. Under this campaign, legal service institutions across India have mobilised to ensure meaningful access to justice for prisoners left without any defence, often for years. Justice Surya Kant has personally led such initiatives in various courts, including the Punjab and Haryana High Court – his parent court. In Punjab, this national movement has transformed into “Mission Mode Punjab”, led by Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court and Chief Patron of PULSA, and Justice Deepak Sibal, Executive Chairman. The campaign aims to ensure that no convict entitled to free legal aid is left without any representation. Working in collaboration with District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees, PULSA initially identified 460 convicted prisoners without legal representation across Punjab. Appeals have already been filed in 406 of these cases, while the process is ongoing in the remaining cases. “This is not a one-time process. This process is continuous and ongoing so that legal aid reaches those who have been suffering silently for a long time,” Justice Sibal said. To further remove barriers to legal aid, PULSA, in collaboration with the High Court Legal Services Committee, has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enable video conferencing between legal aid counsel and prisoners. Nodal officers have been appointed to ensure direct communication with prisoners whose cases are pending in the High Court. In parallel, “Mission Parole Sahayata Abhiyan” is also being run, which aims to ensure timely parole to eligible convicts. Legal aid clinics inside prisons identify such prisoners, assist with the application process, and assist them in filing appeals or writ petitions when parole is denied, ensuring that procedural hurdles do not hinder their access to legal remedies.