Role Of Government Schemes And Legal Service Institutions In Access To Justice In India

Avantika Singh, SRM University, Delhi – NCR, Sonepat, Haryana

ABSTRACT

This Paper is being written to examine the schemes that have been implemented by the State targeting Access to Justice for all with SDG – 16 targets in mind. India is embarking on it’s journey towards one of the pioneers of Industrial revolution 4.0 but can that happen if it’s population remains aloof from the judicial remedies or hurdles intentionally made by the colonial era system of red taped justice meant to churn and spew out majority of Indians except a few who can afford a long drawn legal battle and with means to ask for expedited Justice, which continued in many forms, though the judiciary and the legislature went on to make some changes over time but couldn’t get rid of it. For the purpose of examining such schemes and it’s effectiveness so far we’ll be covering all recent and major steps for giving access of Justice to the people, legal service institutions and the infrastructure being built and motivating steps being taken which will push every arm of the Indian State towards access to justice and not just justice but expedited and seen to be done Justice. The new era of evolving technology and it’s penetration and availability even in the remote villages is a fertile soil for the growth of the seeds of expedited access to Justice as this marks the beginning of a new era where if the Court can’t reach the last person physically, the last person can definitely reach the court virtually. The Preamble to the Constitution of India states and gives vision to the state to ensure ‘Justice’ as the first deliverable which must be guaranteed for it’s citizens. It is the hallmark of a successful and vibrant democracy but only if the guaranteed Justice sought to be provided to the citizen of India is equitable. Therefore it is the duty of the State to create conducive atmosphere in the Polity of the Country where justice-delivery is a service which is citizen-centric and not a favour on the people or a function of the branches of the government. There can never be an inclusive government without citizen serving justice ensuring infrastructures and legal aids that ensure that people know about their rights and they can fight for them when they do.