New Delhi, Nov 8: Union Law & Justice Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has called for appropriate and effective legal services to be reached to poor, to ensure equality before law as we are a welfare state.
Addressing an orientation workshop cum launching function organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in collaboration with the Delhi State Legal Authority (DLSA) in New Delhi on Saturday, he said the legal services programme must be region specific to consider all local factors.
The Minister said that Legal Aid Services is one of the essential functions of a Welfare State for a simple reason that in a welfare state people should have equal access to justice irrespective of the constraints as well as differences in socio-economic backgrounds.
He said continuous evaluation and revision of ongoing programmes is also necessary to remove major hurdles in accessing justice and there is a need for incorporation of specific legal services provision in these schemes. He said it should be assessed to see as to how many cases are those involving a requirement of legal aid among 26 crore cases that in pendency.
Justice TS Thakur of Supreme Court of India emphasized the need to create awareness about the Legal Aid Services Programmes especially in the younger generation.
He said to ensure the mission of NALSA “Access of Justice to all “, we will have to approach people for this purpose. He said, NALSA through its state level bodies makes recommendations for revamping and proper implementation of schemes.
On this occasion, seven new and revised schemes were launched to be implemented by the Legal Services Institutions at the National, State, District and Taluk Levels
