Thread by @barandbench

The National Legal Services Authority is observing "Legal Services Day" today & will be launching the iOS moblie application.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana will be the Chief Guest of the function. Live updates below.

#NALSA

Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Rajesh Bindal begins welcome address: I welcome our Chief Guest Justice NV Ramana.

His Lordship is not only known for his commitment to provide #legalaid to the last member of society but has also taken various steps to make it possible.

Justice Rajesh Bindal also welcomes Union Minister for law & justice, @KirenRijiju and Justice UU Lalit.

#NALSA

Justice Rajesh Bindal: Celebration of any day is not merely a ritual, rather is an opportunity for all us to review what we have done, whether we have achieved targets, whether we are lacking and our goals.

#NALSA

Lighting of lamp by Chief Justice of India.

#NALSA

Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA begins address: It was an excellent performance by law students. "Janwaron ko jagana hai, janwaron ko bachana hai". Just consider these expressions, I don't have to say anything else.

#NALSA

Justice UU Lalit: this awareness program is essentially designed to send messages like this. To reach every nook & corner of the country.

The idea is to make people aware of their constitutional right to free #legalaid

#NALSA

Justice UU Lalit: Out of 100 cases listed on criminal side, legal aid is only given in 1% matters. Does that mean 99% don't want legal aid? Essentially it is because of lack of knowledge of entitlement.

#NALSA

Justice UU Lalit: We want to eradicate this lack of knowledge and have light or "prakash" of knowledge.

#NALSA

Justice UU Lalit to law students: you are the backbone of the future of this country. If you involve yourself in legal aid voluntarily and do your bit then perhaps the same kind of lack of knowledge will be eradicated completely.

#NALSA

Justice UU Lalit: I had suggested to the #BarCouncilofIndia that in every law College it must adopt at least three Talukas and keep sending its students, once or twice a week.

#NALSA

Union Minister @KirenRijiju begins his address: I have no doubt in my mind that the long effort that picked up during Justice UU Lalit's time will reach every nook & corner.

Even Justice Ramana has devoted quite a lot of his time to ensure legal services are given due attention

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: These days you may listen many unpalatable remarks on social media. But when you see closely how much judges have to perform, the homework, the studies- it is very difficult for people like us to comprehend.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: We are from public life, we are open but judges can't be that open, they have their own limitations. if you understand how much a judge has to devote his time give a pronouncement, it is not easy to come out of conventional duty & look after services.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: We want to ensure that people do not have to struggle to get bare minimum justice.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: the idea of bringing justice to doorstep is transforming the judiciary.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: lower judiciary is where I feel the greatest thrust must be given at this point of time. So many people do not get justice. It is not anyone's fault, it is because of circumstances.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: in this context, #NALSA has taken numerous steps. I must once again commend Justice Lalit and Chief Justice Ramana. I have seen a great teamwork.

Some High Court judges have told me that Justice Lalit is pushing them very hard!

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: judiciary is so important and we have all the commitment to maintain independence of judiciary. The strength of judiciary is very critical for the survival of democracy.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: I always feel must do much more to improve legal education and legal profession itself. It is important we support all necessary things to bring law Colleges in India to be brought upto a standard.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: We are also looking after alternate dispute resolution mechanisms. You are going to be not only conventional lawyers but mediators, arbitrators. We are creating so many avenues.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: Prime Minister has already committed four years back, that India has must be made an international centre for arbitration.

In the same manner we will make India an attractive destination for mediation.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju refers to Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (#UDHR) and Article 39A of the Constitution of India.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: as a young growing democratic nation, it is universal truth that we have to accept #HumanRights as #FundamentalRights which the Constitution provides.

There cannot be a compromise on Fundamental rights.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: but what I want to say is only fundamental rights alone doesn't make a country great. A country will become great if everybody also understands constitutional duties.

#NALSA

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju concludes address by congratulating #NALSA

Chief Justice Chhattisgarh High Court AK Goswami begins address & speaks on the inauguration of film festival for legal awareness.

#NALSA

Justice Goswami: we do hope that through this festival we will be able to successfully sensitise people. Paralegal volunteers also play a pivotal role in our pursuit to spread legal awareness.

#NALSA

Chief Justice of India & Patron in Chief #NALSA NV Ramana begins address.

CJI Ramana: Today, before addressing the gathering- I would like greet my brother Justice Lalit on his birthday.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: On 2nd October we started an awareness campaign that will conclude on 17 November.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: I want to congratulate young boys & girls who performed the program which remember Swami Vivekananda- arise, awake & stop not till the goal is reached.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: this day marks the beginning of our journey towards achieving the constitutional goal of access to justice. I am glad to see such a grand celebration!

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: while the concept of legal aid was institutionalised in 1995, actual legal aid movement was started during the independence struggle. Several stalwarts who were practicing lawyers offered their services pro bono.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: growth of the legal aid movement reflected in our Constitution wherein the expression, "Justice- social, economic & political" finds special place in the preamble.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: Earlier the concept of legal aid was confined to courtrooms, notions of access to justice were understood from traditional point of view.

The legal services authorities have broken the traditional notions of legal aid.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: they also work towards legal awareness, legal literacy, social action litigation and settlement of disputes through ADR.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana to law students: you all are doubly privileged.

Firstly, because you are educated in a premier institution, where information and knowledge is available at your fingertips.

Secondly, being educated in law, you are empowered to be the voice of those who have none.

CJI Ramana: These students are becoming major players in the legal aid movement. This decision to join the movement, will pave the path of a great career. It will help you inculcate empathy, understanding and a sense of selflessness.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: remember that unlike other professions, the legal profession is not about profit maximization, but about service to the society.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: I thank @KirenRijiju Ji recognising the hard work and the service of the judiciary and judges. I can see in recent times you are the only politician who recognised judicial hard work. Thank you very much.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: Justice Lalit still has the enthusiasm. He has travelled four corners of the country in a month's time & spread legal awareness.

#NALSA

CJI Ramana: I thank all of you to be here.

CJI quotes Martin Luther King, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle.."

#NALSA

Justice MN Bhandari delivers the vote of thanks.

#NALSA

Justice MN Bhandari: I convey my heartfelt gratitude to all those who made this event a success. We are committed to the motto of #NALSA, "nyay sabke liye".

Justice MN Bhandari: I express my sincere gratitude to the CJI for providing continuous guidance and support to the legal services authority.

#NALSA

Event concludes.

#NALSA