Justice Must Reach the Last Mile, Not Stay in Courts: Meghwal and Saini
Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, stressed the critical need for justice to extend beyond courtrooms and reach every citizen at their doorstep. This message was delivered during a regional workshop held at Kurukshetra University on Sunday, focusing on the Tele-Law programme under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) scheme.
Government's Commitment to Accessible Justice
Meghwal articulated the government's unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice is accessible to all, particularly the underprivileged sections of society. He highlighted key initiatives such as "Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached," "Nyaya Bandhu," and the "Legal Literacy and Awareness Programme." These efforts aim to provide easy and unhindered access to legal services, with the overarching goal of strengthening the country's legal ecosystem.
Emphasizing the role of technology, Meghwal noted that ongoing efforts are making the justice delivery system more accessible, affordable, and citizen-centric. He called pro bono advocates "guardians of justice" and urged for an increase in their numbers in Haryana to expand legal aid further.
Doorstep Justice and Digital Transformation
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini echoed these sentiments, asserting that justice should not remain confined to courts but must be delivered to people at their doorsteps. He linked this vision to the broader goals of "Digital India" and "Viksit Bharat," emphasizing that inclusive development and good governance are unattainable without full awareness of rights and confidence in securing justice among all societal sections.
Earlier, at Ambedkar Law College, Meghwal elaborated on the vision of a Viksit Bharat, which goes beyond economic growth to include a human-centric digital transformation. He acknowledged challenges such as case pendency, procedural complexities, and limited resources but stressed that coordinated efforts between the government and judiciary are addressing these issues.
Launch of Awareness Initiatives
During the workshop, several initiatives were launched to promote legal awareness:
- A DISHA awareness van was flagged off to spread information about legal aid services.
- E-books on customary laws of tribal communities from the North-East were introduced.
- A documentary on the DISHA scheme was unveiled to educate the public.
These steps underscore the government's proactive approach to empowering citizens through timely legal advice and awareness, ensuring that justice truly reaches the last mile.
