Road map for access to justice for all under process

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 1, 2021

The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) on Monday organized a Conference on the occasion of Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Yojana Bhavan, Main Secretariat, Shillong. The theme of the Conference was “Access Justice for All”.

Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Judge, Supreme Court of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest in the presence of Justice RV More, Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya and Parton -in – Chief MSLSA, James PK Sangma, Meghalaya Law Minister, Justice HS Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman, MSLSA and Justice W Diengdoh, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, said that the Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme launched by the NLSA as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is aimed at ensuring that the celebration of 75 years of Indian independence is not merely ceremonial. The Meghalaya Judiciary and the Meghalaya Government are focused on chalking out a road map to ensure that access to justice for all is a reality. The challenge is to reach out to citizens at the grassroots level, most of whom may not even be aware of what the term justice means, he added. There is a need to create awareness in every nook and corner of the State to ensure that nobody is deprived of justice due to ignorance about justice or ignorance about the path to justice, he stated.

Justice RV More speaking on the theme of the Conference said that ‘Access Justice for All’ is a basic human right which is predominantly embedded in the Indian Constitution. The hallmark of a successful and vibrant democracy is that every citizen is not only guaranteed justice but also that justice is accessible and equitable. He further added that Legal Aid plays a very important role in the realization of access of justice for all as it is made to bring justice to people who have no means for access. Stressing on the importance of ensuring that Legal Aid is not confined to the traditional or litigation oriented services but should have a more dynamic approach, he informed that MSLSA has been relentlessly working towards the progress of the objective of accessing justice for all. He informed that constant efforts are being made by MSLSA to educate citizens about the concept of legal aid and to bridge the gap between them and the access to justice through a series of awareness programmes held on various platforms.

James PK Sangma said that at a time when societies are still immersed in various social conflicts due to the Covid -19 pandemic, fundamental rights and many freedoms have been under constraints. A recovery from the pandemic cannot be complete without a plan built to further strengthen institutions of justice and secure the rights of those who are further behind, he added.