NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that equality is not only the foundation of justice but a necessary condition of justice too.
“Access to justice for all has been a theme close to my heart. Equality is not only the foundation of justice but a necessary condition of justice too. It has been long since the world proclaimed that all human beings are equal, but we need to ask ourselves if we all have equal access to justice”, President Murmu said while addressing the valedictory session of the 1st Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid at Supreme Court here in the national capital.
She added that making legal aid accessible to people in need is the cornerstone of any modern state.
“I believe that making legal aid accessible to people in need is the cornerstone of any modern state. It plays a crucial role in shaping a social order that is equitable, just and worthy of trust,” said the President.
“I feel that there is a need to launch an awareness campaign among people not only to make them conscious of their rights but also to help them get legal assistance if such a need arises. Such an awareness campaign must focus on rural areas and socially disadvantaged groups to dispel the impression that justice is the advantage of the stronger,” she added.
Dwelling on the significance of technology, President Droupadi Murmu further said, “Technology holds great promise in making access to legal aid more democratic. It has reduced distances and made justice dispensation easier in many cases. An innovative attitude towards the integration of technology in the justice delivery system will make it more inclusive as well as more efficient.”
“With more democratic and efficient justice systems, the Global South can take the lead in showing the way to more sustainable development for the whole world. In fact, improving access to justice is an effective tool to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16,” she added.
The first regional conference on ‘Access to Legal Aid’ was held jointly by the National Legal Services Authority, India (NALSA), the International Legal Foundation (ILF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the goal to address the challenges in ensuring access to quality legal aid services in the countries of the Global South. (ANI)
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