Ease of Justice as important as Ease of Living: PM
Insight Online News
New Delhi, July 30 : Ease of Justice is just as important as Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday while stressing on the need for use of technology in justice delivery system.
“This is ‘aazadi ka amrit kaal’. This is the time for those resolutions that will take the country to new heights in the next 25 years.
“Ease of Justice is equally important like Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living in this Amrit Yatra of the country,” the Prime Minister said.
He was addressing the inaugural session of First All India District Legal Services Authorities Meet in presence of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Justice DY Chandrachud and other legal dignitaries.
The Prime Minister highlighted the place of legal aid in the Directive Principles of the State Policy.
“It is just as important for any society to have access to the judicial system, as is justice delivery. The judicial infrastructure also has an important contribution to this. In the last eight years, steps have been taken at a fast pace to strengthen the judicial infrastructure of the country,” he said.
Underlining India’s leadership in information technology and fintech, the Prime Minister stressed that there can not be a better time to introduce more power of technology to judicial proceedings.
“Under the e-Courts Mission, virtual courts are being started in the country. 24-hour courts have started functioning for crimes like traffic violations. Video conferencing infrastructure is also being expanded in the courts for the convenience of the people,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that more than one crore cases have been heard through video conferencing in the country.
He said “a common citizen should be aware of his rights and duties in the Constitution”.
“They should be aware of their Constitution, and constitutional structures, rules and remedies. Technology can play a big role in this too,” he said.
Modi once again raised the issue of sensitivity towards undertrial prisoners.
He said that the District Legal Services Authorities can take up the responsibility of providing legal aid to such prisoners.
He also appealed to the District Judges, as Chairpersons of undertrial review committees, to expedite the release of undertrial prisoners.
The first-ever national level meet of DLSAs is taking place on Saturday and Sunday at the Vigyan Bhawan, organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
The meeting will deliberate on the creation of an integrated procedure in order to bring homogeneity and synchronisation across DLSAs.
There are a total of 676 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) in the country. They are headed by the District Judge who acts as Chairman of the authority.
UNIINDIA
