Thread by @barandbench

President of India Ramnath Kovind to launch 6 week long ‘The Pan India Legal Awareness and Outreach Campaign’ of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

CJI N V Ramana, #SupremeCourt judges & Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to speak at the event
@KirenRijiju @rashtrapatibhvn

President Kovind, CJI NV Ramana, Justices UU Lalit, AM Khanwilkar and Law Minister @KirenRijiju on stage for the national anthem

President Kovind lights the ceremonial lamp @rashtrapatibhvn

CJI NV Ramana being felicitated by Justice UU Lalit

Justice Lalit delivers the introductory speech: Whatever interactions I have had with the President of India the concept of legal aid is very dear to him. His presence today will go a long way in expanding this pan India program

Justice Lalit: CJI NV Ramana is like an elder brother who is always supportive. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, your ministry has been very helpful, we rely on the support for other measures. Justice Khanwilkar, I have known him for last 30 years and we grew up together.

Justice Lalit: This year NALSA is completing 25 years of legal services. We have taken long strides till now yet we have not reached every nook and corner of the country. Of all the case, there are only 1% cases with the legal aid. Why? Are we lacking somewhere?

Justice Lalit: We have large backbone and support of DLSAs and state bodies including taluka level bodies. Every one of them associated with work of legal aid, he will be doing a bit of their work by reaching out every nook and corner.

Justice Lalit: Our endeavour will be to leave a footprint in every village at least thrice so that they know that they are entitled for free legal aid.

Justice Lalit: Will that be enough. For legal awareness yes, but the court based legal services should be of same order that people have inherent confidence in the mechanism

Justice Lalit: If well established and senior lawyers think that it is time to give back to the system and take up pro bono cases then people will develop this confidence in the free legal aid.

Justice Lalit: Atleast do three matters a year on a pro bono basis. We wanted to felicitate senior counsels who did pro bono basis but we got very few names. Please do pro bono work on your own, this is my request to all senior lawyers

Justice Lalit: internships are compulsory in medical colleges, why cannot be this compulsory in law colleges and why cannot they be para legal volunteers. there can be a regular stream of students who will be dedicated to the cause of legal aid.

Justice Lalit: bar council of India has assured me that such a step will be taken in law colleges. These two things will add to the pan India program.

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju addresses the gathering: NALSA has been performing an exemplary role in bringing justice delivery to the doorsteps of people.

@KirenRijiju @RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: Today is a day to reaffirm the justice delivery mechanism to people, on Sept 17 i monitored for the whole day how NALSA is on job and reaching out to the remotest part of the country

@KirenRijiju @RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: Legal literacy is a barrier for people to access the legal services. NALSA schemes reach out to a variety of people from tribals to unorganised people to the ones suffering sexual assault or drug abuse.

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: More than 90 lakh people have been helped by NALSA authorities to send food, ration and medical supplies during the pandemic. Organisation of E-LokAdalat is the most impressive scheme for access to justice for the marginalized.

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: Lok adalat has been an indegineous dispute resolution mechanism which has helped in solving cases. Our govt under @narendramodi has focussed on access to justice and also ease of living which is access to business.

Rijiju: I want to speak on the commercial courts. we all know advantages of commercial courts act 2015. success of any law depends on the implementation at the level of the executive as well as the cooperation of judiciary,

Rijiju: While litigation is divided into civil and criminal, the commercial courts act carves out an area of litigation out of the civil practice area which requires experienced lawyers and trained judges to reap its benefits

Rijiju: accordingly the 2015 act recognize that judges having experience in dealing with commercial disputes are important for their expeditious disposal and also provide for their training and continuing education

Rijiju: the other important step by 2015 act is to mandate the courts to have case management hearing where dates of trial are fixed and arguments are there in time bound manner to have minimum adjournments.

Rijiju: Rijiju: mediation was introduced for commercial disputes since it saves time and saves a lot of costs like advocate and court fees. it takes 1,444 days to solve a case at court of first instance and incurs cost which is 31% claim value

Rijiju: Efforts need to be taken for strengthening of legal education. Law colleges have onerous responsibility, today’s law students are tomorrow’s Lawyers and judges. speedy justice is legitimate expectation of people and collective responsibility of the state.

CJI NV Ramana delivers the special address: Today marks a historic day not only for India but also for the world. The teachings and philosophy of Mahatma not only shaped the path to a tolerant and self reliant India but also shaped many modern civilisations

CJI: even today the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi guides humanity to a better tomorrow.

CJI: Gandhi strongly believed in the concept of Sarvodaya through Antyodaya ..that is development for all through for welfare of weaker section. It is an undeniable truth that only inclusive growth can lead to a vibrant democracy.

CJI: Inclusive growth is not possible without inclusive access to justice.

CJI: The framers of our constitution were well aware of our socio economic reality thus a welfare state was envisaged.. in order to protect the rights, the principle of equality before law was introduced.

CJI: But this guarantee of equal justice will be rendered meaningless if the vulnerable sections cannot enforce their rights. Equality and access to justice complement each other.

CJI: In this country people should feel law and institution is for everyone, in the democratic country, its the faith and trust of people that strengthens institutions, we must earn that faith. quality of democracy rests on quality of justice

CJI: For a healthy democracy a vibrant judiciary is essential. COVID19 has created many problems in many institutions including the judiciary ..

CJI: thousands of cases have accumulated in different forums, apart from large vacancies and non working of courts and lack of virtual conferencing facilities in rural areas..Pandemic has exposed some deep rooted problems

CJI: my companion judges and i have attempted to enable the litigant to access faster justice. I want to state that since May onwards we have recommended more than 106 judges to High courts and 9 chief justices to various high courts

CJI: The government has cleared some and law minister has informed me that rest of the things are going to come in one or two days time. I thank the central government for clearing these vacancies and quick access to justice. these appointments will tackle pendency to some extent

CJI: i seek cooperation and support from govt to ease access to justice and strengthen the democracy. since its inception 25 years ago NALSA has rendered service to crores of people and has helped them realise their rights and entitlements all free of cost.

CJI: now our efforts will turn into an movement, NALSA is embarking on this ambitious 6 week program today and concluding on the birth anniversary of Pandit Nehru. the goal should be if the needy cannot reach us we will reach the needy.

CJI: As we celebrate 75 years of independence it is a challenge for all the three organs of the state to work together and realise the true goals of freedom.

CJI: We are fortunate enough to have President Kovind with us who was a lawyer himself. i would like to express my gratitude for the support by the President to further the legal reforms in the country @rashtrapatibhvn

CJI: I was told Law Minister Rijiju had set @Twitter on fire with his high-energy dance. his connect with common people defines his commitment to society, Under the leader of Justice UU Lalit, i am sure this 6 week program NALSA will take great strides

@KirenRijiju

CJI: I consider media to be a key stakeholder in this mission. I request the media friends to be partner with NALSA to advance the cause of justice. I urge all the stakeholders to undertake this historic journey for strengthening legal aid.

President of India Ramnath Kovind: it gives me immense pleasure to inaugrate this outreach program. our freedom struggle was led by several great lawyers who also tried to make our society more progressive

@rashtrapatibhvn

President of India Ramnath Kovind: More than 130 years ago Gandhiji has set some example which are important for the entire legal fraternity. In his first major case in south Africa Gandhiji had suggested out of court settlement

@rashtrapatibhvn

President of India Ramnath Kovind: The parties agreed for an arbitrator which led to an award which favoured his client. His client was made to agree to easy installment payments. He believed in out of court settlement was preferable to litigation.

@rashtrapatibhvn

President of India Ramnath Kovind: Gandhiji did a lot of pro bono work to help the poor. Indentured labourers looked up to Gandhiji to help them in courts, Gandhiji helped them without fees.

@rashtrapatibhvn

President of India: After returning to India & watching rich lawyers earning at cost of poor litigants he wrote “ best legal talent must be available to poor at reasonable rates” i feel this advice of Bapu should be followed by legal fraternity, Specially Senior Advocates

President of India: Such Advocates should earmark a certain part of their time in pro bono services to people from weaker sections.

President of India: the noble initiative of bringing justice to the doorstep of people is truly needed. our ancient tradition highlighted the need for equal access to justice. disputes were resolved through amicable settlement...

President of India: Since our independence, we moved from judicial aristocracy to judicial democracy. NALSA has been playing an important role in this. I am informed that 1 crore 11 lakh cases have been disposed off by Lok Adalats

President of India: structure of legal services institution provides support to our judicial architecture. i expect legal services authority to make special efforts to help the marginalized.

President of India: as a country our goal should be to graduate from women development to women led development. therefore increasing number of women in legal services institution is as important as reaching out to the largest possible number of women beneficiaries

Justice AM Khanwilkar: NALSA has provided support to 57 lakh migrant workers for their travel and other needs during the pandemic.

Justice Khanwilkar: The best incentive of this collective effort or a family approach is that we would make better judges, better lawyers, better students and most importantly compassionate human beings and better citizens of this great Nation...

Justice Khanwilkar: an impression is gaining ground that only those who cannot afford lawyers opt for legal aid. there are 5 legal aid lawyers for per one lakh population. we need to strive more to overcome this pitfall.

Justice Khanwilkar: we must endeavour to wipe off the tear of the last person in need. Thank you

Event concludes with the National Anthem

Law Minister has assured that Collegium recommendations to High Courts will be cleared soon: CJI NV Ramana

report by @DebayonRoy

#Collegium #NVRamana #HighCourts @RijijuOffice

Read story: bityl.co/8wZ8

People should feel law and judicial institution is for everyone: CJI NV Ramana

Read more: bityl.co/8wk0