Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 18: The District Legal Services Authority, A&N Islands, in association with the Department of Forest, A&N Islands, organised a Legal Awareness Programme today at Van Sadan, Haddo. The programme covered important legal topics, including Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.
The programme was led by Shri Niyaz Alam, Learned Additional District Judge, Port Blair, along with Shri Samrat Roy, Learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Port Blair-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The programme was presided over by Shri Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The welcome address was delivered by Shri S. K. Thomas, IFS, Conservator of Forests (HQ).
Shri Niyaz Alam, Learned Additional District Judge, elaborated on the provisions and significance of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and emphasized the importance of forest and environmental protection laws. Shri Samrat Roy, Learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, explained the procedure for handling forest-related cases, including case writing and step-by-step court procedures.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. A. Anil Kumar, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial).
The awareness programme was attended by senior officers of the Forest Department, including Divisional Forest Officers, Assistant Conservators of Forests, Range Officers, and other executive staff from various forest divisions. The PRAYAS JAC delegation also participated in the programme, including Ms. Marya Sheela, Regional Head, PRAYAS, and Shri K. Vijay Kumar, Advisor, PRAYAS.