Context:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Conference on “Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms” at the Supreme Court of India, extending wishes for the 20th National Conference and acknowledging NALSA completing 30 years. The conference focuses on enhancing the legal aid architecture, ensuring affordable & accessible justice, and strengthening mechanisms aligned with Legal Services Day.
Key Highlights – Government Efforts for Ease of Justice
• Over the last 11 years, Government focus on Ease of Doing Business, Ease of Living and now Ease of Justice.
• More than 40,000 unnecessary compliances removed for businesses.
• 3,400+ legal sections decriminalized under the Jan Vishwas Act.
• 1,500+ outdated laws repealed.
• Older laws replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Key Highlights – Legal Aid System Performance
• Legal aid ensures justice reaches poor, Dalits, deprived & marginalized.
• Legal Aid Defence Counsel System → nearly 8 lakh criminal cases resolved in 3 years.
• Lok Adalats + pre-litigation settlements → lakhs of low-cost quick settlements annually.
• Legal services authorities act as bridge between judiciary & citizens from national to taluka level.
Key Highlights – Mediation + Civilisational Roots
• Mediation has deep civilisational presence in India → village councils, elders, community decision-making.
• New Mediation Act → gives modernised framework to traditional model of dialogue & consensus.
• Launch of NALSA’s Community Mediation Training Module → new cadre of community mediation resources.
Key Highlights – Technology & Justice Delivery
• Technology when pro-people becomes democratizing:
– UPI → digital inclusion
– Optical fibre + 1 lakh mobile towers → rural connectivity boosted
• E-Courts Project → E-filing, e-summons, virtual hearings, VC-led cases = modernised processes.
• Budget for Phase-III E-Courts → ₹7,000+ crore allocation.
Key Highlights – Language + Access
• Language of justice must be understood by common citizens.
• Supreme Court initiative – translation of 80,000+ judgments into 18 Indian languages.
• High Courts + District Courts to expand this access process.
Key Highlights – NALSA’s 30-Year Legacy
• NALSA = direct service to poor litigants lacking representation & resources.
• Work anchored in service ethic → connecting judiciary & citizens at ground level.
• Community legal literacy must expand using:
– SHGs
– PRIs
– Cooperatives
– Law students participation for legal awareness.
Conference Background
• NALSA’s 2-day national conference → deliberations on:
– Legal Aid Defense Counsel System
– Panel Lawyers
– Para-legal volunteers
– Permanent Lok Adalats
– Financial management of legal services institutions
Relevant Mains Points:
• Legal aid = part of Article 39A (DPSP) → promotes justice based on equal opportunity.
• Ease of Justice → essential input for Ease of Living & Ease of Doing Business.
• Mediation = global ADR tool → reduces pendency burden + improves harmony.
• Digitisation of Judiciary + vernacular accessibility = inclusive judicial reforms model.
• Way Forward:
– Expand community mediation
– Continue decriminalisation of low impact offences
– Judicial process simplification + local language availability
– Enhance technology driven legal awareness (mobile legal literacy apps etc.)
UPSC Relevance:
• GS-2 → judicial reforms, legal aid, vulnerable groups access to rights
• GS-3 → governance & technology integration, service delivery
• GS-4 → justice, fairness, equity, public service ethos