Pre-natal Diagnosis, Child marriage and injury compensation were the main topics of discussion today at a large scale meeting held at the Police Conference Hall, Police Headquarters, Udaipur which was attended by all district and session magistrates of Udaipur division, administrative officers and police officers including members of various NGOs.

The meeting was organized under the directives of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, Jaipur, and was chaired by Justice Dalip Singh, President.

The President of the Authority, Justice Dalip Singh, informed the participants that the authority has instituted various steps to curb child marriage and pre natal sex determination.

Prior to April 24, 2012, which is considered to be an auspicious day according to the Hindu calendar (Akshay Tritiya Parv), the authority has instituted various seminars and public gatherings at the district level, talukka level panchayat samiti, village panchayat level, to educate the common man on the regulations and the laws pertaining to Child Marriage prohibition and Pre-Natal Sex determination.

He informed the audience that in the previous year too, such activities were carried out, which resulted in curbing the practices to an extent and the same momentum is expected this year.

He further said that the common man is unaware about the regulations under the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, which can result in imprisonment up to two years and a penalty touching Rs. 1 Lac. To educate the common man on such, a joint effort by the police, social service organizations, judiciary, women and child development organizations, etc. needs to be initiated.

At present the authority has assigned teams for round-the-clock monitoring of villages and towns where such activities are prevalent.

Informing more on the P.C.P.N.D.T Act, the honorable speaker said that feticide was becoming a common crime, the curbing of which is mandatory. The police and administration should take steps to regularly monitor and examine sonography labs, testing labs, etc.

As per the Injury Compensation Plan – 2011, the injured person has a right to lodge a complaint with the local judiciary and will be compensated within 60 days provided the case is clear.

The President of the District Legal Services Authority, Udaipur, Mahendra Kumar Maheshwari informed the participants that the upper limit for access to legal services has been raised from Rs. 1,00,000 (Income Per Annum from all sources) to Rs. 1,25, 000 (Income Per Annum from all sources). Also, the service charge funding limit of the legal representative of the claimant at Session or Upper Session Courts has been raised from Rs. 900 to Rs. 4,500; the same has been raised from Rs. 600 to Rs. 3,000 for such service at the Chief Judicial Magistrates office or the Upper Chief Judicial Magistrates office.