A conference on ‘Access Justice for All’ was today organised by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) on the occasion of Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Yojana Bhavan, Main Secretariat.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Judge of the Supreme Court of India who graced the occasion as the chief guest said that the Pan-India Awareness and Outreach Programme launched by the NLSA is not merely ceremonial.
He said the Meghalaya Judiciary and the government are focused on chalking out a road map to ensure that access to justice for all is a reality. However, he added, that the challenge is to reach out to citizens at the grassroots level, most of whom may not even be aware of what the term justice means.
Therefore, he suggested that there is a need to create awareness in every nook and corner of the State to ensure that nobody is deprived of justice due to ignorance about justice or ignorance about the path to justice.
Meghalaya High Court, Chief Justice R. V. More said that ‘Access Justice for All’ is a basic human right which is predominantly embedded in the Indian Constitution.
The hallmark of a successful and vibrant democracy is that every citizen is not only guaranteed justice but also that justice is accessible and equitable, he said.
Pointing out that legal aid plays a very important role in the realisation of access of justice for all as it is made to bring justice to people who have no means for access, More stressed on the importance of ensuring that legal aid is not confined to the traditional or litigation oriented services but should have a more dynamic approach.
He informed that MSLSA has been relentlessly working towards the progress of the objective of accessing justice for all and constant efforts are being made to educate citizens about the concept of legal aid and to bridge the gap between them and the access to justice through a series of awareness programmes held on various platforms.
Law Minister, James K Sangma said that at a time when societies are still immersed in various social conflicts due to the Covid -19 pandemic, fundamental rights and many freedoms have been under constraints. A recovery from the pandemic cannot be complete without a plan built to further strengthen institutions of justice and secure the rights of those who are further behind, he added.
At the conference, Facebook Page and YouTube Channel of MSLSA were also launched.
Justice H. S. Thangkhiew and Executive Chairman, MSLSA and Justice W. Diengdoh were also present on the occasion.
