Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar Leads NALSA SAMVAD Scheme Legal Awareness Drive for Tribal Communities in Shopian
SHOPIAN, AUGUST 08, 2026 — In a major initiative aimed at expanding legal access for marginalized and tribal communities, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, Sanjeev Kumar, presided over a comprehensive legal awareness programme in Shopian. Held at the Imtiyaz Memorial Government Degree College, the event focused on promoting the National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) SAMVAD Scheme—a targeted program designed to strengthen access to justice for Adivasis and de-notified or nomadic tribes. Accompanied by High Court Registrar General M.K. Sharma, the Acting Chief Justice inaugurated the proceedings, which were organized by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Shopian under the aegis of the J&K Legal Services Authority.
Upon arrival at the venue, the Acting Chief Justice inspected interactive exhibition stalls set up by various government departments operating across the Shopian district to showcase administrative and welfare services. In his presidential address, Sanjeev Kumar lauded the coordinated outreach efforts of DLSA Shopian and the J&K Legal Services Authority. He underscored the fundamental constitutional and statutory rights guaranteed to tribal populations, stressing the pivotal role played by legal services institutions in delivering justice at the grassroots level. He emphasized that the NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 serves as an essential bridge, connecting remote tribal communities directly with institutional legal aid and administrative remedies.
The event featured a welcome address by Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairman of DLSA Shopian, Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary, who highlighted the crucial need for sustained community outreach and legal literacy programs tailored for tribal populations. The gathering saw significant participation from local administrative and police leadership, including the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Shopian, the Deputy Commissioner of Shopian, and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shopian. During the proceedings, the dignitaries formally released Sabeel, a specialized legal outreach publication prepared by DLSA Shopian.
More than two thousand members of the tribal community from across the district attended the event, gaining direct exposure to the objectives and benefits of the SAMVAD Scheme 2025. The program featured cultural presentations by local tribal youth highlighting the region’s heritage, as well as the presentation of felicitation certificates to high achievers from the tribal community. Beneficiaries of several government welfare programs received their entitlement certificates and benefits on the spot from the Acting Chief Justice and visiting officials. Members of the local Bar, tribal representatives, and departmental officers also shared their insights regarding the effective implementation of welfare policies. Following a vote of thanks delivered by the Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Shopian, the Acting Chief Justice and Registrar General inspected the newly constructed District Court Complex in Shopian and held interactive meetings with local judicial officers and Bar Association members to address key matters concerning legal aid infrastructure.