Imperative to amplify justice needs of under-represented: CJI

 

 

ACCESS to justice cannot be secured only by crafting propeople jurisprudence in judgements but requires active progress on the administrative side of the court such as improving infrastructure and enhancing legal aid services, Chief Justice of India DY Chandra chud said on Monday. Speaking at the first Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid organised by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) here, Chandrachud said the challenge for judges is not to do justice in the facts of the individual case but to institutionalise the processes and look beyond the immediate aswell. “Access to justice is not a right that can be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in our judgements rather it requires active progress on the administrative side of the court as well,” Chandrachud said.

 

The CJI said the discourse abouthumanrightsandaccess to justice has historically been monopolised by voices from the Global North (industrialised nations) which makes such dialogues unsuitable. He said it is imperative to amplify the justice needs of the under-represented populations in our country. Chandrachud said the concept of justice has historically been construed as applicable solely within the confines of a sovereign state. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant also spoke on the occasion.

 

LEGAL AID HAS FUNCTIONAL ROLE IN STRENGTHENING JUSTICE SYSTEM, SAYS JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA: Legal aid has a functional role in strengthening the justice system and it needs to be understood beyond the aid to the needy, Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna said on Monday. Giving an overview of the conference, he said this is the firsttime theheadsofthe judiciary, heads of law and justice ministries, heads of legal aid bodies and civil society representatives from 70 countries of the Global South came together at an international platformdedicatedtothecause of legal aid.

 

“Legal aid needs to be understood much beyond the aid to theneedy. Legal aid has a functional role instrengthening the justice system. It empowers individuals to participate and engagewithpublicinstitutions and become active and equal stakeholders,” Justice Khanna said. Hesaid,“IndianConstitution imposes an obligation on the state to provide free legal aid to ensure access to justice to all citizens. In India, the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987forms a backbone of how legal aid accessibility and awarenessis structured.” LAWYERS TREATING LEGALAID AS STEP CHILD CAUSEOF CONCERN: AGVENKATARAMANI: Legal aid is not analternative charity and the“sin”of lawyers treating the pro bono work as a“step child”remains a cause for concern, Attorney General R Venkataramani said on Monday and condemned such an attitude. The law officer said those who think that the progress in legal profession is through corporate or Governmental workalone are blind to the fundamentals of their professional calling.