: Madras High Court Justice M Jaichandran today said the poor and downtrodden should be assured of access to speedy and inexpensive justice.
"The faith of the people in judiciary is its greatest strength and it should be enriched grain by grain," he said.
Inaugurating National Lok Adalat and Pension Adalat here, he said the judiciary played an important role along with Bar. Judiciary is one of the main pillars of the Constitution and custodian of democracy in the country.
"We have achieved several goals and targets. But still let us not forget that we have many more miles to go",he said.
Justice Jaichandran, who is also Portfolio Judge and Executive Chairman of the Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority here, said the poor and downtrodden should be assured of access to justice and also to speedy and inexpensive justice.
"Justice should not not be a distant dream for these sections of people living in darkest corners in the Union Territory of Puducherry'. The Legal Services Authority had powers to reach out to them and create awareness among them.
As officers of court, lawyers are an important component in the entire judicial system, he said, highlighting multifarious duties of the advocates towards the litigant public and the state at large.
He also stressed that judiciary and the Bar are the 'two wheels of a chariot and asked lawyers to take a pledge that they reached out to the voiceless and the downtrodden.
Chief Minister N.Rangasamy who declared open a Mediation Centre, an Extension Counter of Indian Bank, Post Office and a dispensary at the court complex, said the grievances of the lawyers were being settled without delay. He said government was keen that courts had adequate infrastructure facilities and very soon the court complex in Karaikal would be set up.
Chief Minister also distributed identity cards to 82 para legal volunteers attached to the Legal Aid cell.
Chief Judge of Puducherry C V Karthikeyan, who is also Chairman of District Legal Services Authority welcomed those present.
