Stresses Early Launch After Incorporating Stakeholder Feedback
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level review meeting on the ambitious Citizen Centric Services initiative of the Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs. The meeting reviewed the progress made so far and emphasized ensuring a timely launch for the benefit of citizens across Jammu & Kashmir.
Secretary, Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Achal Sethi, presented a detailed update on the development of the digital platform, which includes both a web portal and a mobile application. The meeting was also attended by Secretary IT Dr. Piyush Singla, CEO JAKEGA Mahima Madan, senior officers of the Law Department, and representatives of BISAG-N.
The Chief Secretary expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work and stressed the importance of launching the services within the stipulated timelines. He highlighted the platform’s potential to enhance transparency, accessibility, and efficiency in legal service delivery, simplifying citizens’ access to essential services such as legal aid and advice.
Noting that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to legal empowerment, inclusive governance, and citizen-centric service delivery, he added that it could serve as a model for other regions to replicate.
Emphasizing inclusivity, the Chief Secretary directed the Department to seek inputs from legal experts, particularly from the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and incorporate their suggestions to make the services more comprehensive and beneficial for all stakeholders.
The Citizen Centric Services initiative comprises ten integrated modules aimed at simplifying public access to legal services. Key features include a Legal Aid/Advice module connecting citizens with Legal Aid and Pro Bono Counsels, access to Central and UT Acts, Rules, Notifications, landmark judgments, court locations, and real-time case status.
Additional services include notary and oath commissioner services, document and marriage registration, details of MLAs and legislative business, public feedback on draft laws, legal education guidance, career support for aspiring legal professionals, an AI-powered chatbot for basic legal assistance, and a grievance redressal and feedback mechanism.
The Chief Secretary urged all stakeholders to work closely to resolve any pending technical or administrative issues and ensure the platform’s readiness on schedule. He also emphasized widespread awareness campaigns to ensure citizens are informed and can effectively utilize the services post-launch.
The Department assured that all necessary steps are being taken to meet the launch timeline and operationalize the platform in a citizen-friendly and efficient manner.
