Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that access to justice must be affordable and speedy for all, irrespective of their situation or position.
He said justice forms the foundation of social justice only when it is accessible, timely, and reaches all, irrespective of their social and financial background. He said the justice and decisions should also be rendered in the language of the people.
He said that the language of justice should be one that the person seeking justice understands. This is crucial to consider when drafting laws. When people understand the law in their own language, it leads to better compliance and reduced litigation. It is also essential that judgments and legal documents be made available in local languages.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the National Conference and Legal Services Day program organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on strengthening legal aid delivery mechanisms. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also launched a community mediation module.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, NALSA's acting chairman and next Chief Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court and High Court judges, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister said that strengthening the legal aid system and programs related to Legal Services Day will provide new strength to India's judicial system. Nearly 800,000 criminal cases have been resolved in just three years under the Legal Aid Rescue Counseling System launched by the Government of India.
These efforts have ensured ease of access to justice for the poor, exploited, deprived, and marginalized across the country. Highlighting the importance of the contribution of Legal Services Authorities, the Prime Minister said that Legal Services Authorities, from the national level to the taluka level, act as a bridge between the judiciary and the common citizen.
The Prime Minister said that the government is continuously taking steps to improve the ease of doing business and the ease of living. Ease of doing business and the ease of living are possible only when the ease of justice is also ensured. In the last few years, several steps have been taken to enhance the ease of justice. We will move forward rapidly in this direction.
The Prime Minister commended NALSA for its work in providing access to justice to the common people, saying that it has made a significant effort to connect the judiciary with the poor citizens of the country. Today, we are launching NALSA's Community Mediation Training Module. Through this, we are reviving the Indian tradition of resolving disputes through dialogue and consensus. Mediation has always been a part of our civilization. The new Arbitration Act advances this tradition in a modern way.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal praised NALSA's three-decade-long journey of providing legal aid. He stated that NALSA's budget, which was ₹68 crore in 2015-16, has reached ₹400 crore in the current financial year.
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, quoting Mahatma Gandhi, said that whenever you are in doubt about making a decision, remember the face of the poorest and most vulnerable person and consider whether your decision will be of any use to them.
The Chief Justice said that this idea is the true essence of the legal aid movement. The light of justice must reach every last person in society. The promise of social, economic, and political justice will be fulfilled only when every person feels that the justice system is their own.
Justice Surya Kant said that legal aid transforms constitutional values into practical relief. It is a medium through which the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed can assert their rights and obtain justice.
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