New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the first District Legal Services Authorities Meet along with Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Union Minister of Law and justice Kiren Rijiju in the national capital.
Addressing the inaugural session, PM Modi stressed that ease of justice is as important as ease of doing business and ease of living: "This time is a time of Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. This is the time for those resolutions which will take the country to new heights in the next 25 years. Ease of justice is equally important like ease of doing business and the ease of living in this Amrit Yatra of the country."
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"As important as access to the judicial system is for any society, justice delivery is equally important. The judicial infrastructure has an important contribution to this. In the last 8 years, work has been done at a fast pace to strengthen judicial infrastructure in India," the Prime Minister said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
He emphasised that technology can play a key role in informing citizens of their rights and duties, rules, and remedies.
"Under e-Courts Mission, virtual courts are being started in India. 24-hour courts have started functioning for crimes like traffic violations. Video conferencing infrastructure is also being expanded in courts," Modi said.
Access To Justice A Tool For Social Emancipation: CJI NV Ramana
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana also shared similar sentiments on justice delivery as he said: "The majority cannot pursue justice delivery mechanisms. Access to justice is a tool for social emancipation. If today we have been able to reach the doorstep of people with justice, we have to thank the able judges, spirited advocates, and the governments."
"District judicial officers are the first point of contact for the majority of the population. Public opinion of the judiciary is based on experience with the district judiciary. Strengthening district judiciary is the need of the hour," he added.
CJI Ramana emphasised that India's true strength lies in the youth, "one-fifth of the world's youth lives in India. Skilled workers are only 3% of our workforce we need to harness the skill force of our country and India is now filling the global gap."
District Legal Services Authorities Meet
The first-ever national level meet of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) is being organised from July 30-31, 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
Justices Uday U Lalit and DY Chandrachud, law minister Kiren Rijiju were among those present at the event.
The meet will address the creation of an integrated procedure in order to bring homogeneity and synchronisation across DLSAs. There are a total of 676 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) in the country. They are headed by the District Judge who acts as Chairman of the authority.
Through DLSAs and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), various legal aid and awareness programmes are implemented by NALSA.
The DLSAs also contribute towards reducing the burden on courts by regulating the Lok Adalats conducted by NALSA.
(With Agency Inputs)