Legal aid not act charity But moral duty
Legal aid is not merely an act of charity but a moral duty, as emphasized by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. He stated this during the valedictory function of the National Conference on "Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms."
According to him, legal aid is an exercise in governance, aiming to ensure that the rule of law reaches every corner of the country.
It reflects the core spirit of the Constitution by bridging the letter of law and the lived realities of people.
- CJI Gavai urged those involved in legal aid work—officers, administrators, and volunteers—to approach their roles with an administrative imagination, planning and innovating in ways to uplift the needy effectively.
- He also highlighted the need for continuous collaboration between judiciary, executive, civil society, and the integration of technology with empathy in the delivery of legal aid.
- The legal aid movement's success depends on the commitment and well-being of those providing the aid, not treating it as charity but as a constitutional and moral imperative for ensuring justice and rule of law.?
Legal Aid as a Moral Duty
- Legal aid is an obligation tied to governance, ensuring law reaches marginalized communities.
- It is a constitutional expression of empathy and justice, not mere benevolence.
- Those involved in legal aid must act as administrators of justice, focusing on meaningful impact.
Institutional Continuity and Collaboration
- Establishment of advisory committees in legal service authorities for consistent policy planning.
- Partnerships with academic institutions and civil society for periodic social audits and improved delivery.
- Emphasis on dignity and respect for volunteers and legal aid counsel.
Empathy and Governance
- Legal aid work requires empathy, collaboration, and an understanding beyond procedural formalities.
- Judicial officers and legal aid workers must address root causes of injustice and coordinate with government and society effectively.
This framework highlights legal aid as a critical, ongoing governance duty to uphold justice and constitutional values, not a charitable act
NALSA advisory committees
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai proposed the following key points regarding advisory committees for the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs):
- Creation of Advisory Committees at NALSA and SLSAs comprising the current executive chairpersons and two or three future or incoming executive chairpersons.
- These advisory committees should meet quarterly or every six months to discuss and oversee projects with a long-term perspective.
- Purpose of these committees is to institutionalize vision-based planning and ensure continuity in key programs such as access to justice, awareness, and digital transformation irrespective of administrative or leadership changes.
- The committees would help maintain policy consistency and sustained implementation of long-term projects beyond the tenure of individual executive chairpersons.
- Such an arrangement would foster a collaborative culture among legal services authorities, promoting collective decision-making and shared accountability.
- The advisory committees would strengthen institutional memory and ensure that legal aid initiatives are not fragmented or limited by the short tenures of officials.
- This approach would ensure that the constitutional mandate to secure justice for every citizen is upheld steadily, with a focus on forward-looking and coordinated action for legal aid delivery.
CJI Gavai emphasized that this model of advisory committees would provide stability and continuity to legal aid work, allowing sustained progress, institutional collaboration, and collective responsibility in the justice delivery system.
Which long term projects did he want the committee to oversee
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai proposed that the advisory committees for NALSA and SLSAs oversee long-term projects focused on:
- Access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.
- Awareness programs to educate citizens about their legal rights and the availability of legal aid.
- The digital transformation of legal aid services to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and transparency.
- Strengthening the delivery mechanisms for legal aid to ensure consistent and effective outreach.
- Institutionalizing empathy-driven governance and collaborative efforts among judiciary, executive, and civil society to address underlying causes of legal exclusion.
- Sustained planning and execution of innovative legal aid initiatives beyond short administrative tenures.
These projects were emphasized as essential to ensuring that the right to legal aid is not treated as a short-term charity act but as a constitutional and moral duty that requires continuous, forward-looking governance and systemic improvements.
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