The Legal Aid movement is indeed at the crossroads today. The agenda for improving access to justice is an important part of social policy. At one level, social distinctions based on caste, class, gender and ethnicity impede the ability of citizen..

The Legal Aid movement is indeed at the crossroads today. The agenda for improving access to justice is an important part of social policy. At one level, social distinctions based on caste, class, gender and ethnicity impede the ability of citizens to approach the judicial system. At the same time, the limited reach of the judicial system further creates the conditions for more inequality since the oppressed sections are unable to seek redress for their injuries and grievances. It is in recognition of these persistent problems that we must chart out our steps for strengthening the legal aid movement. I hope that the initiatives taken to train young persons as ‘paralegals’ will prove to be successful and also serve as a model which can be replicated all over the country. All stakeholders in the legal system should wholeheartedly support the deepening of the reach of legal aid services.

Judicial independence is one of the essential elements of Rule of Law. Every civilized society has seen the need for an impartial and independent judiciary. The principle of Judicial Independence has acquired renewed significance, s..

Judicial independence is one of the essential elements of Rule of Law. Every civilized society has seen the need for an impartial and independent judiciary. The principle of Judicial Independence has acquired renewed significance, since the Constitution of India has conferred on the Judiciary the power of judicial review. However, keeping in mind the doctrine of Separation of Powers, udiciary has to exercise considerable restraint to ensure that the surcharged democracy does not lead to a breakdown of the working of the Parliament and the Government. The Judiciary needs to work in the area demarcated by the Constitution. Awareness about rights has grown while correspondingly redressal from the Executive has been reduced. The Executive has its own compulsions – huge population, lack of resources, high inflation, global economic region etc. As a consequence litigation has multiplied. Despite commendable achievements in terms of disposal which I will presently demonstrate, the challenge is and should be for Zero Pendency in which direction a lot needs to be done.

National Legal Services Authority (Legal Aid Clinics) Regulations, 2011 is certainly momentous for more than one reason. The idea of roping in law students through their respective 3universities in rendering the legal service via legal aid clinics..

National Legal Services Authority (Legal Aid Clinics) Regulations, 2011 is certainly momentous for more than one reason. The idea of roping in law students through their respective 3universities in rendering the legal service via legal aid clinics is a splendid idea, since it directly encourages the young legal minds to be part of the mission of legal empowerment and also gives them the platform to interact with common masses on their legal dispute.