CJI Emphasizes People's Trust Over Statistics in Success of Legal Services | India News
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Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai has emphasized the importance of trust and faith from the public in the success of the legal services movement. Speaking at the national conference on 'Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms' in New Delhi, CJI Gavai stated that the true measure of success lies in the quiet gratitude and renewed faith of citizens who feel seen and heard. He shared his experience visiting a relief camp in Manipur, where he met an elderly woman who expressed her gratitude with tears in her eyes. This encounter highlighted the significance of legal aid in the lives of those who receive it. According to the CJI, the real reward of the legal services movement is not in statistics or annual reports, but in the trust of the common person. He emphasized that the movement's success depends on the belief that someone is willing to stand by them in times of distress. Gavai also referenced Mahatma Gandhi's talisman, which encourages us to consider the needs of the poorest and weakest individuals, and to ask ourselves if our actions will be of any use to them. He stated that the legal service movement is a living embodiment of this principle. The CJI appreciated the efforts of legal aid lawyers and para-legal volunteers, who are the foot soldiers of the movement. He reminded them that even a single visit or conversation can be life-changing for someone who has never had anyone come for them before. Terming legal aid as a proactive movement, Gavai emphasized the need to continuously reflect on how society is changing and to address emerging needs. He recalled the words of BR Ambedkar, who said that the battle for freedom is a battle for the reclamation of human personality. The CJI emphasized that the Constitution's promise will be fulfilled only when every person feels that the system of justice belongs to them. He concluded by saying that every act of legal aid, however small, is an act of nation-building.
