Access to justice is the ability of a State where every person can get judicial redress in a fair, equal and speedy manner.
- Article 14, Article 21 and Article 39A of the constitution guarantee the citizens the right to access to justice.
Barriers to Access to Justice
- Geographical: Courts and law schools physically far from rural/remote areas.
- Linguistic: Legal education and proceedings dominated by English.
- Economic: High cost of legal education and litigation expenses.
- Social: Caste system, Illiteracy, lack of legal awareness.
- Others: Digital Divide, Lack of Physical Infrastructure. E.g. Over 4.6 crore cases pending in lower courts.
Institutional Initiatives for Access to Justice
- National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms: To increase access to justice and enhance accountability through structural changes.
- Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: National Legal Services Authority, State Legal Services Authority, Lok Adalats.
- E-Courts Mission Mode Project: Digitization of Courts.
Way Forward
- Linguistic inclusivity: Promote instruction and proceedings in regional languages.
- Legal education reform: Provide financial Support through Scholarships, stipends, and fee waivers.
- Regional & Local Access: Establish more courts, law schools, and legal aid clinics.
- Technology Integration: Use technology to deliver justice.
