Supreme Court Judge Justice Kurian Joseph has called upon lawyers to help the downtrodden and helpless people.

Inaugurating the Jharkhand Para Legal Volunteers Workshop on Sunday, Joseph told the lawyers about their responsibility and called upon them to maintain the brotherhood concept of the Constitution.

Joseph asked the lawyers to talk to the downtrodden and helpless people and provide them with legal help.

The Supreme court judge also handed over cheques ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh as compensation to 25 victims under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and sexual abuses belonging to three districts - Dhanbad, Giridih and Dumka.

Over 300 paralegal volunteers of all the 24 districts of the state are attending the workshop which is being organised by the Dhanbad District Legal Services Authority.

Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Aniruddha Bose and high court judges, Justice D N Patel, Justice A C Mishra were also present on the occasion.