PIB Summary- 7th June, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)

Why in News?
Recently, under the Department of Justice’s (Ministry of Law and Justice) Nyaya Bandhu, Pro Bono Club, ICFAI Law School, The ICFAI University, Tripura, in association with District Legal Services Authority West Tripura, organized a Door-to-Door Legal Aid Campaign.

District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)

• The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) is an institution established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• It operates at the district level and aims to provide free legal aid and services to the weaker sections of society, ensuring equal access to justice regardless of economic or other disabilities.

Role and Composition

• DLSA is a statutory body responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of legal aid programs within the district.
• It is constituted in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and comprises various members with prescribed qualifications and experience.

Provision of Free Legal Services

• Article 39-A of the Constitution of India addresses the provision of free legal services to citizens who are unable to afford the expenses of legal representation.
• DLSA plays a crucial role in ensuring the availability of legal aid to such individuals and also appoints lawyers to assist defendants in their legal proceedings.

Composition of DLSA

• The State Government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, constitutes the District Legal Services Authority.
• The chairman of the DLSA is the district judge, while other members with specific qualifications and experience are nominated by the government.
• The Secretary of the District Authority is a person from the State Judicial Service, not below the rank of a Subordinate Judge or Civil Judge posted at the district seat.
• The Member Secretary of the District Authority is the Assistant Commissioner of the concerned district.

Salaries and Conditions

• The officers and employees of the District Legal Services Authority are entitled to receive salaries, allowances, and other conditions of service as prescribed by the State Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Lavender Festival

Why in News?
Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology inaugurated the Lavender festival at Bhaderwah in the Jammu region.

Lavender Festival and CSIR-Aroma Mission

• The Lavender Festival marks the second year of the lavender revolution, highlighting Bhaderwah as the Lavender capital of India and an Agri StartUp destination.
• The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) supports farmers in cultivating Lavender in Bhaderwah, Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) as part of the CSIR-Aroma Mission.

CSIR-Aroma Mission

• CSIR-Aroma Mission is a flagship project of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) launched under the
• Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Its primary objective is to promote Lavender cultivation in the temperate regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The mission aims to increase the income of small and marginal farmers while fostering the development of agriculture-based startups.

Lavender

• Lavender is a flowering plant that belongs to the mint family and is recognized by its delightful floral fragrance.
• It is believed to be native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India.
• The Lavender Festival celebrates the progress made in lavender cultivation in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, and promotes the economic upliftment of farmers through the CSIR-Aroma Mission.