Srinagar, July 1 (Representative) Chief Justice of India Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Friday said the Indian Constitution recognised the fundamental rights of every individual regardless of their social and economic status. Delivering the inaugural address of the 19th All India Legal Services Authorities Meet here, Justice Chandranchud said the Constitution seeks to create social order based on the ideals of Liberty, Equality and Social Justice. The Indian Constitution has recognised the fundamental rights of all individuals regardless of their social and economic status, he observed.Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Dr B D Mishra Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Judges of Supreme Court also graced the occasion and addressed the meet. The Chief Justice of India congratulated the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and J&K Legal Services Authority for organizing the meet and bringing together the wealth of learning and experience of Indian Judiciary. “This significant meet in the perspective of the Indian Judiciary is the reflection of mainstreaming of J&K and Ladakh in the discourse of development in India,” the CJI said.
The CJI expressed gratitude to NALSA, all the office bearers, members of Legal Services Authorities, lawyers, para-legal volunteers for striving to make the constitutional goal of social justice a reality. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lauded the efforts of Legal Services Authorities to achieve the Constitutional goal under Article 39 (A) to provide free legal aid to weaker sections of society and also ensure welfare of people and upholding justice and social equity. State Legal Services Authorities have also ensured the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity through Lok Adalat, public outreach and mediation, he added. He also appreciated the efforts to strengthen the Legal Aid movement and generate legal literacy among the people, especially in far flung and rural areas of J&K.Given the lack of awareness in far flung areas, the people are being made aware about their rights, which have empowered the rural poor, he said. The Lt Governor termed the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 as a revolutionary step in the judicial system of India, which ensures that no citizen of the country is deprived of justice. “The spirit of equal justice is rooted in our ancient culture and it is the solemn duty of all of us to strengthen the system which does not discriminate among the citizens and protects them from inequality and injustice,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor shared the major reforms introduced, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, to ensure social-economic equality and access to justice to all the citizens of Jammu Kashmir. “In J&K, for almost seven decades, Article 370 prevented central legislation from benefiting a large section of society. It had also denied benefits of legitimate citizenship to a sizable section of society. Abrogation of Article 370 ensured social equity and inclusive development,” the Lt Governor said. He said the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A brought historic reforms and a new era in J&K. Today, the UT is offering limitless possibilities to the people, especially to those from the weaker section of the society, who were deprived of the benefits of the laws enacted by the Parliament, he added. Within four years J&K is synonymous with peace, progress, prosperity and the world has seen our capability, our socio-economic growth during last month’s G20 meeting. Projects are being implemented with unprecedented speed and we have taken infrastructure development to a new height, the Lt Governor observed. Lt Governor of Ladakh Dr Mishra, commended the National Legal Services Authority for its efforts in ensuring access to Justice to the weak, poor and marginalized. Union MoS for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, said the All India Legal Services Authorities’ Meet at Srinagar will prove to be a milestone in the future journey of National Legal Services Authority. He highlighted the steps taken to overhaul the functioning of the Indian Justice Delivery System and further laid emphasis on strengthening the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System.