ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

The Social Justice Department was established on 9th September 1975 for ensuring justice to the disadvantaged sections of the society and for the implementation of social welfare programmes and services in Kerala. It also provides social security for the Aged and infirm through a network of organizations, residential institutions and non-institutional schemes.

ABOUT KeLSA

Kerala State Legal Services Authority is the statutory body that provides free legal aid to the people of the state of Kerala, India.It is one among the several state Legal Services Authorities in India which were constituted following the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987.

ABOUT PROBATION FORTNIGHT PROGRAMME

Probation Fortnight Programme is a flagship programme organised by the Govt. of Kerala in the State from November 15 – December 4 annually. November 15th, the birth anniversary of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer is marked as the Probation Day in the State of Kerala. It is observed to commemorate the days from the Birth Anniversary to the Death Anniversary of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer who is well known as the People’s Judge and the pioneer of Judicial Activism in India.

Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer was a Judge and Minister who reformed the Indian criminal justice system. He stood up for the poor and the underprivileged, and remained a human rights champion.He is the man who laid the foundation for Public Interest Litigation and prison jurisprudence in the country. He was the first law minister in the ministry led by EMS Namboodiripad.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

As part of the observance of Probation Day,the Social Justice Department has been organising seminars and panel-discussions across the State in association with Kerala Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), Judiciary and Dept.of Prison & Police.The ceremony will be officially inaugurated by Dr.R.Bindu, the honourable Minister for Higher Education & Social Justice, Govt. of Kerala on 15th November 2022 in between 10 am & 11am.The venue is at Kerala Arts & Crafts Village, Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram.

The welcome speech for the programme will be delivered by Smt. Rani George IAS, Principal Secretary of Social Justice Department.The presidential address will be delivered by Sri.M Vincent,the honourable MLA of Kovalam constituency. Sri.K.T. Nisar Ahmad, District Judge & Member Secretary of KELSA , Dr.G. Mohan Gopal, Former Director of National Judicial Academy, Bhopal & Justice Abraham Mathew, retd. judge of High court will be the chief guests for the programme.Sri. Anil Kant IPS, State Police Chief , Sri. Balram Kumar Upadhyay IPS, DGP, Prisons & Correctional Services, Prof. Mini Sukumaran, Planning Board Member, Prof. Jacob George, State Probation Advisory Committee Member, Dr. Reshma Bharadwaj, Asst.Professor at Sri Shankaracharya Sanskrit University,Kalady have consented to grace this auspicious ceremony with their presence.Smt. M Anjana IAS, Director for Social Justice Dept. will be delivering the vote of thanks for the programme.

In this seminar, Dr. G. Mohan Gopal will be taking a session on ‘Role of Probation officers in upholding justice’ from 11.15 am-12.15 pm which will be followed by a 15 minute discussion.The programme will be carried on by a session by Justice Abraham Mathew on the topic ‘Procedural aspects of Probation of Offenders Act,1958’ from 1.30 pm -2.15 pm followed up by a discussion. Dr. Reshma Bharadwaj will be handling an academic session on a study report presentation – ‘Correctional Pluralism : Perspectives and Practices’. The programme will conclude by 4.30 pm.