The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, today said the judicial system should keep in touch with what is obtaining at ground-level so that the common man can access it to assert his rights.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 'National Lok Adalat' conducted under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi, on the premises of the Integrated court complex here.
The Chief Justice, also patron in chief of Legal Services Authority of Union Territory of Puducherry, said Lok Adalats not only eased pressure on the court but also "seek to provide justice at the ground level."
He said the judicial system should keep in touch with what is obtaining at ground level so that common man "can access the judicial system to assert his rights."
The concept of Legal Services Authority today included counselling, creating legal literacy among the public besides conducting Lok Adalat to ensure that the common man has easy access to judicial system for redress of grievances, he said.
"What is the point in having laws if people are not aware of their rights and how to access the law and the judicial system?," he asked, adding, the Lok Adalat system was an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
"When we talk about increase in certain field of litigation it is also a direct result of awareness increasing among the people. I feel that this is matter of confidence in judiciary and assertion of rights by the people is a matter of pride."
The Chief Justice pointed out that the Bar and the Bench could work together towards alternative dispute redressal mechanism including the Lok Adalats to ease the pressure on the courts.
He also inaugurated the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal and Judicial Magistrate Court (IV) located in Karaikal through video conference and released the news letter of Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority besides distributing prizes to students proficient in various competitions.
Chief Minister N.Rangasamy presided.
