On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that access to justice is just as crucial as ease of conducting business and ease of living.
Speaking at the First All India District Legal Services Authorities’ inaugural session, Prime Minister Modi said, “This time is a time of Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. This is the time for those resolutions which will take the country to new heights in the next 25 years. The ease of justice is equally important, like the ease of doing business and the ease of living in this Amrit Yatra of a country. “
During the event at Vigyan Bhawan, the PM shared the stage with Chief Justice NV Raman and stated, “Justice delivery is as important for any society as access to the judicial system is the judicial infrastructure also has an important contribution to this. In the last eight years, work has been done at a fast pace to strengthen the judicial infrastructure of the country.”
He added, “Under the e-courts mission, virtual courts are being started in the country. Twenty-four-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.”
Law Minister Kiran Rijiju, Justice Uday U Lalit, along with Justice DY Chandrachud, also attended the event.
The National Legal Services Authority will host the first-ever national level meeting of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) on July 30 and 31, 2022, at Vigyan Bhawan (NALSA). The meeting discusses developing an integrated process to bring synchronisation and homogeneity among DLSAs.
The total number of District Legal Service Authorities (DLSA) in the country is 676. The district judge heads the DLSA and also acts as the chairman of the authority.
NALSA implements a number of legal assistance and awareness programmes through DLSAs and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs). By regulating the Lok Adalats held by NALSA, the DLSAs also help to lighten the load on the courts.