DLSA CONSTITUTES TWO FAMILY WELFARE COMMITTEES -COMMITTEES TO PROBE THE CASES COME UNDER 498-A AT INITIAL STAGE

Ludhiana - District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman District Legal Services Authorities Mr. Gurbir Singh informed that In compliance to the judgement dated 27.07.2017 passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in criminal appeal No.1265 of 2017 titled as "Rajesh Sharma & Ors Vs. State of U.P. & Anr" directing the District Legal Services Authority to constitute a Family Welfare Committee comprising of three members, District Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana has  constituted two Family Welfare Committees. First Committee comprises of Mrs. Manmeet Kaur Grewal, Psychologist as Chairperson and  Sh. Charanjit Singh, Social Worker and Sh. D.S. Saini, Retd. Officer as its members while the Second committee comprises of  Sh. Amarjit Singh Sekhon, Retd. Officer as Chairman and  Dr. Narinder Sandhu, Educationist and Mrs. Gauri Chhabra, Educationist and Career Consultant as its members.

            He said that the working of these committees shall be reviewed time to time and accorindly changes will be made as per requirement. As per the judgement, committee members will not be called as witness. These committees may hold the counseling of both parties to settle the matter amicably. 

            While giving further information, He said that every complaint under 498-A received by the Police or the Magistrate be referred to and looked into by these committees interacting with the parties personally or by means of telephone or any other mode of communication including electronic communication and thereafter, a brief report of such committee about the factual aspects and its opionion in the matter be given to the authority by whom the complaint is referred to it, within month from the date or receipt and such report may be then considered by the investigating officer or the Magistrate on its merits.

            He said that with the formation of these committees, police could not act against innocent person or party and misuse of these article 498-A will be stopped as well. People’s faith in judiciary will increase and work load of courts and police will be reduced. Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur CJM-cum-Secretary District Legal Services Authority was also present at the occasion.