CJI Surya Kant at NALSA Conference: Dignity, Inclusion, and Equal Access to Justice for All
A judicial report on Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressing the NALSA conference in Indore on constitutional dignity and legal aid.
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CJI Surya Kant at NALSA Conference: Dignity, Inclusion, and Equal Access to Justice for All
Addressing the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) regional conference in Indore, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized that meaningful access to justice requires active institutional empathy, dignity, and inclusive legal aid for marginalized citizens.
1. Executive Summary: CJI Address Themes
Key highlights of the CJI address at NALSA:
NALSA INDORE CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
• Core Principle: Justice Must Be Accessible, Affordable, & Dignified
• Legal Aid Expansion: Tele-Law & Digitized District Legal Services
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Strengthening Lok Adalats & Mediation
• Marginalized Protection: Free Legal Defense for Underprivileged Litigants
2. Transforming Legal Aid into Proactive Empowerment
CJI Surya Kant highlighted that legal services authorities must transition from passive aid dispensaries into proactive guardians of constitutional rights. He urged paralegal volunteers to reach rural villages and tribal belts to raise legal literacy.
3. Strengthening Lok Adalats and Pre-Litigation Mediation
To reduce court backlog, the Chief Justice commended NALSA's Lok Adalats and pre-litigation mediation centers, which resolved over 1.2 crore pending cases in 2025 through mutual consensus without expensive litigation costs.
4. Digitalization & Tele-Law Services in Rural India
Expanding digital court initiatives ensures citizens in remote districts receive legal advice via video consultation, bridging the gap between socio-economic barriers and judicial remedies.