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Legal Access

National Legal Services Day 2024: Celebrating equal access to justice

Every year on November 9, we celebrate National Legal Services Day. It emphasises on the value of equitable access to justice and the empowerment of marginalised populations

Updated On : 09 Nov 2024 | 10:58 AM IST

Over 11.3 million cases settled in first National Lok Adalat of 2024

In a significant stride towards fostering an accessible and inclusive justice system, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) successfully organised the first National Lok Adalat of 2024 in the taluks, districts and high courts of 34 states and Union territories on Saturday. According to information from the state legal services authorities from across the country as of 6 pm on Saturday, a total of 1,13,60,144 cases were settled at the first National Lok Adalat, including 17,14,056 pending cases and 96,46,088 pre-litigation cases. "The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases was Rs 8,065.29 crore. The number of settled cases will rise as reports are awaited from some State Legal Services Authorities," a release said. It added that the figures show the effectiveness of alternative mechanisms for dispute resolution, reflecting the success of the National Lok Adalat in achieving its objectives. "This National Lok Adalat marks a pivotal moment in NALSA's .

Updated On : 09 Mar 2024 | 10:57 PM IST

'Right to protest' under threat in UK, undermining a pillar of democracy

For holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants, a retiree faces up to two years in prison. For hanging a banner reading Just Stop Oil off a bridge, an engineer got a three-year sentence. Just for walking slowly down the street, scores of people have been arrested. They are among hundreds of environmental activists arrested for peaceful demonstrations in the UK, where tough new laws restrict the right to protest. The Conservative government says the laws prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life. Critics say the arrests mark a worrying departure. The government has made its intent very clear, which is basically to suppress what is legitimate, lawful protest," said Jonathon Porritt, an ecologist and former director of Friends of the Earth. A PATCHWORK DEMOCRACY Britain is one of the world's oldest democracies, home of the Magna Carta, a centuries-old Parliament and an independent judiciary. That syste

Updated On : 26 Dec 2023 | 11:41 AM IST

Imperative to amplify justice needs of under-represented, says CJI

Access to justice cannot be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in judgements but requires active progress on the administrative side of the court such as improving infrastructure and enhancing legal aid services, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said on Monday. Speaking at the first Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid organised by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) here, Chandrachud said the challenge for judges is not to do justice in the facts of the individual case but to institutionalise the processes and look beyond the immediate as well. "Access to justice is not a right that can be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in our judgements rather it requires active progress on the administrative side of the court as well," Chandrachud said. The CJI said the discourse about human rights and access to justice has historically been monopolised by voices from the Global North (industrialised nations) which makes such dialogues ...