Punjab has become the first state in India to open a network of free legal aid clinics only for defence personnel and their families.
Just three days after a national legal aid program for armed forces was launched by Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant, Punjab started 22 Legal Services Clinics. These were opened at District Sainik Welfare Offices and inaugurated by Justice Deepak Sibal, Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and head of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PULSA).
These clinics are like help centres where soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families can get free legal advice and support. They will deal with issues like service benefits, pensions, land or property disputes, family problems, consumer complaints and welfare rights.
Justice Sibal said that no soldier or veteran should face legal problems alone especially when they are posted in remote areas or after retirement.
Earlier, a state-level clinic was virtually launched by Justice Surya Kant during a regional legal conference in Jammu and Kashmir on July 26–27.
This project is part of the Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 and has been set up by PULSA with support from the central, state and district sainik boards. The Chief Justice of the High Court Justice Sheel Nagu is also actively involved.
What makes this special is that the legal help will be provided by former soldiers who are now trained as para-legal volunteers and lawyers. This means the advice will be both professional and understanding of army life.
The clinics will also offer counselling before filing cases legal awareness programs and help in different courts. They will work closely with district legal authorities and sainik welfare officers to give quick and focused help.
Justice Sibal said, They guard our borders with grit – we guard their rights with resolve.
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