Major legal literacy and awareness campaign being held at Paddal Ground
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The hill town of Mandi on Saturday turned into a hub of legal and social awareness as top judges from the Supreme Court and Himachal Pradesh High Court gathered for a massive Legal Literacy and Awareness Campaign being held at Paddal Ground.
The event, organised jointly by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (HPSLSA) and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Mandi, has drawn large participation from students, volunteers, legal professionals and disaster-hit families from across the region.
The campaign, themed “Drug-Free Society – Resolution of Bharat”, “Save Environment – Save Planet” and “Disaster Victim Rehabilitation”, seeks to connect the judiciary’s outreach with pressing social and environmental concerns faced by communities in the Himalayan state.
Supreme Court judge leads the initiative
Justice Surya Kant, a judge of the Supreme Court and executive chairman of NALSA, is the chief guest at the event, lending the occasion both gravity and significance.
He is joined by Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who is the patron-in-chief of HPSLSA, and Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, a judge of the HP High Court and executive chairman of HPSLSA.
Other judges of the High Court, including Justice Ajay Mohan Goel and Justice Sandeep Sharma, are also in attendance, underlining the judiciary’s unified commitment to promoting a legally aware, drug-free and resilient society.
Call for social responsibility
The campaign began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and rendition of Vande Mataram and the NALSA ‘Sankalp Geet’. As the day progresses, sessions on drug de-addiction, environmental preservation and rehabilitation of disaster victims are being held, with legal experts and social organisations engaging participants through discussions and exhibitions.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goel welcomed the dignitaries, while Justice Vivek Singh Thakur introduced the themes of the day, emphasising that true justice extends beyond courts and judgments as it also lies in creating awareness, compassion and empowerment among citizens.
Justice Surya Kant’s possible interaction with disaster-affected families and volunteers will be one of the key highlights of the day.
Hundreds of students, teachers, social workers, and members of disaster-hit families have gathered at the venue. Exhibition stalls set up by various departments and NGOs are showcasing initiatives on legal aid, environmental conservation and disaster management.
Local residents described the campaign as a “historic outreach” bringing the judiciary closer to the people. Many participants said it was the first time they had seen top judges engage directly with grassroots issues in such an open and participatory setting.
With its strong message of social harmony, legal empowerment and ecological responsibility, the Mandi event is being seen as a model for future NALSA-led initiatives in other districts of Himachal Pradesh.
