Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Saturday that the goals of “ease of living” and “ease of doing business” can only be fully realized when citizens also experience “ease of justice.” Speaking at the national conference on “Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms,” organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at the Supreme Court, the PM stressed that justice must be delivered to all people, irrespective of their economic or social background, to truly become the foundation of social justice.
The event was attended by high-ranking legal dignitaries, including Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai, CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
⚖️ Enhancing Access and Speed
The Prime Minister highlighted several ongoing initiatives aimed at making the justice system more accessible and efficient:
- NALSA as a Bridge: He praised NALSA, marking its 30th anniversary, for acting as a crucial bridge between the judiciary and citizens who lack representation, bringing hope and assistance to those most in need.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: Modi noted the success of mechanisms like Lok Adalats and pre-litigation settlements, which have resolved lakhs of disputes “swiftly, amicably and with low expenditure.”
- Legal Aid: The Legal Aid Defence Counsel System has also successfully helped settle nearly eight lakh criminal cases over the past three years.
💻 Tech and Language Reforms
Modi underscored the necessity of technology and language to widen the system’s reach:
- E-Courts Initiative: He highlighted the ongoing eCourts project, including the expansion of video-conferencing and the digitization of filing and summons systems. The third phase of this initiative has been allocated over ₹7,000 crore to make judicial processes simpler and more inclusive.
- Justice in Vernacular: The PM welcomed the Supreme Court’s initiative to translate over 80,000 judgments into 18 Indian languages. He urged similar efforts in high courts and district courts, asserting that people’s understanding of the law in their own language leads to better compliance and reduced litigation.
📜 Simplification and Decriminalisation
To simplify governance and support both citizens and businesses, the government has focused on legislative cleanup:
- Obsolete Laws: Over the last eleven years, the government has removed over 40,000 compliance requirements and repealed over 1,500 obsolete laws.
- Jan Vishwas Act: The government has decriminalized more than 3,400 legal provisions through the Jan Vishwas Act.
- Historic Reforms: Modi cited the replacement of long-standing colonial-era legal codes with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, calling it a historic step in criminal law reform.
🤝 Grassroots Awareness and Mediation
Two key initiatives were emphasized for strengthening justice at the community level:
- Community Mediation: The PM launched NALSA’s Community Mediation Training Module. He stressed that mediation is a civilizational practice in India, and the new Mediation Act carries this tradition forward, helping to reduce litigation and strengthen social harmony.
- Legal Literacy Priority: Modi noted that access to justice begins with awareness. Enhancing legal literacy among vulnerable groups—including women, senior citizens, and marginalized communities—must remain a priority. He called for law students to work at the grassroots level with self-help groups, cooperatives, and panchayats to bring legal knowledge “to every doorstep.”
In conclusion, the Prime Minister called for a collective vision among legal institutions, law colleges, and grassroots governance structures to expand legal awareness and strengthen confidence in the justice delivery system for a “developed India.”