DLSA Jammu trains para legal volunteers on missing children scheme
Blazing Tales News Service
JAMMU, AUGUST 4: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Jammu, on Tuesday organised an awareness-cum-training programme for Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) to sensitise them about the J&K Legal Services Authority (Para Legal Volunteers in Police Stations for Missing Children) Scheme, 2026.
The programme was held in the Conference Hall of the District Court Complex under the guidance of Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairman, DLSA Jammu, Ravinder Nath Watal, and under the supervision of Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Secretary, DLSA Jammu, Maleeka Sharma.
The programme was chaired by Secretary DLSA and Chairperson of the Core Committee constituted under the scheme, Maleeka Sharma. Para Legal Volunteers from DLSA Jammu and Tehsil Legal Services Committees of Jammu, Bishnah, Akhnoor and R.S. Pura participated in the training programme.
Addressing the participants, Maleeka Sharma urged the PLVs to serve as an effective link between all stakeholder agencies dealing with missing children. She called upon them to respond promptly to every case and discharge their responsibilities with sincerity and diligence.
Advocate Deepali Arora and Advocate Mayank Gupta, members of the Core Committee, served as resource persons and provided detailed information on the provisions of the J&K Legal Services Authority (Para Legal Volunteers in Police Stations for Missing Children) Scheme, 2026.
They explained the constitutional mandate of providing free legal aid, the background and objectives of the scheme, and the role of para legal volunteers in assisting parents and guardians of missing children.
The resource persons informed that the scheme aims to provide legal assistance in lodging FIRs or missing reports, filing the prescribed Missing Persons Information Form (Form ‘M’), coordinating with authorities for tracing missing children and ensuring timely dissemination of information among all concerned agencies.
They also highlighted the responsibilities of PLVs in preparing hue and cry notices, guiding affected families and acting as a vital link between the police, legal services institutions and the public.
The training session also featured detailed discussions on child rights, the Juvenile Justice Act, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for missing children cases, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Constitution of India, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the role of para legal volunteers in the criminal justice system.
