Sirsi: "To provide legal aid to HIV patients, a free legal counselling centre has been set up in Pandit General Hospital", informed Additional District Judge Shantaveer Shivappa said.

Speaking after inaugurating the centre at a program organised by Taluk Legal Services Committee, Bar Association and Health Department at the ART Centre of Pandit Public Hospital here on Saturday, he said that any criminal cannot be freed from punishment just because he has no knowledge of law. But everyone should have atleast some knowledge of law, he added.

ART Center In-charge KN Murdeshwar presided over the programme.”Now we will be able to provide legal assistance to HIV affected people at the free legal counselling center”, he said.

Bar Association President Ravindra Naik, Tahsilhar Basappa poojari and doctor Vinayak S also spoke. Lawyer Suresh Dheeran detailed about the legal centre.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Sufia Inamdar and advocate santosh Hegde were present. Bar Association Secretary RR Hegde welcomed. Lawyer Shivray Desai proposed the vote of thanks.