‘Few people reach the court, most of the population is forced to bear the pain by staying silent’: Cji said in front of PM Modi

Describing access to justice as a “tool of social salvation”, Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana said on Saturday that only a very small section of the population can reach the courts and most people are aware of it. And in the absence of necessary means, they keep suffering by staying silent. Justice Raman said in the first meeting of All India District Legal Services Authorities that technology is playing a big role in enabling people. He urged the judiciary to “adopt modern technological tools to speed up the delivery of justice”.

In the meeting of All India District Legal Services Authorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the judiciary to expedite the process of release of undertrial prisoners lodged in various jails and awaiting legal aid.

Justice Ramana said, “Justice – social, economic and political – is what our (Constitution) Preamble promises to every Indian. The reality is that today only a small percentage of our population can access the justice delivery system when needed. Due to lack of awareness and necessary resources, most of the people keep suffering in silence.

He said, “Modern India was built with the goal of removing inequalities in the society. Democracy means providing space for everyone’s participation. This participation would not be possible without social emancipation. Access to justice is a means of social emancipation.

Like the Prime Minister in providing legal aid to undertrials and ensuring their release, he also said that one of the aspects that need the intervention and active consideration of the legal service officers in the country is the condition of undertrials. .

“The Prime Minister and the Attorney General also appropriated this issue in the recently held conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices. I am happy to note that NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) is actively cooperating with all stakeholders to provide much needed relief to undertrials.

Justice Ramana said that India, the second most populous country in the world, has an average age of 29 years and a vast workforce. But only three percent of the total workforce is estimated to be skilled.

The Chief Justice described the district judiciary as the backbone of the justice delivery system of the world’s largest democratic country.

He appreciated the services rendered by NALSA since it started functioning 27 years ago. He also stressed on the need to strengthen alternative dispute redressal mechanisms like Lok Adalat and Mediation Centres.