Malappuram DLSA ranked number one in State

The Malappuram District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has been ranked the best in the State for its performance in 2024–25. The achievement was announced at the annual meeting of the Kerala Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) held in Kochi on Friday (December 5). Kottayam and Thrissur DLSAs won the second and third places, respectively.

Malappuram DLSA received the top honour for effectively implementing a wide range of service schemes over the past year. In 2023–24, it was ranked third in the State. Foremost among the activities undertaken by the DLSA was its effort to reach tribal communities living in the Nilambur forests and provide them with free legal aid.

Led by Chairman and Principal District Judge K. Sanil Kumar and Secretary and Senior Division Civil Judge M. Shabir Ibrahim, the DLSA initiated measures to upgrade essential facilities for the tribal communities of Nilambur. Mr. Ibrahim said that they also focused on extending legal assistance to women, children, senior citizens, prisoners, and persons with disabilities.

He said special attention had been given to the timely implementation of all projects envisaged by the National and State Legal Services Authorities. Special care was also given to auditing, he said. Malappuram DLSA achieved success in settling criminal, civil, family and financial disputes through mediation by consistently employing an amicable approach.

Through its Samvada programme, the DLSA has introduced high school and higher secondary students to court procedures. “The programme has been running seamlessly without any interruptions,” said Mr. Ibrahim. The District Mediation Centre at Manjeri received top honours for resolving the highest number of cases in the recent Mediation for the Nation campaign. Over 3,000 cases were settled in a single day during a national Lok Adalat organised by the DLSA at Manjeri on September 13. Mr. Ibrahim attributed the success of the Lok Adalat to the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Mr. Sanil Kumar and Mr. Ibrahim received the best DLSA award from High Court Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar. KeLSA Executive Chairman Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and member secretary Anil Bhaskar were present.