Supreme Court Judge Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday said in Dibrugarh that judiciary must make the people aware about the existence of legal services institutions and availability of free legal services.
“Access to Justice for All – is our motto. We are committed to it and taking all possible steps in this direction. We have seen that common people tend to remain uninformed about their rights or lack access to justice delivery mechanism. Hence it becomes essential on the part of the judiciary to make them aware about the existence of legal services institutions and availability of free legal services,” Justice Gogoi added.
The Supreme Court judge was in Dibrugarh to inaugurate the State’s first ever legal literacy club in Dibrugarh.
Justice Gogoi inaugurated the legal literacy club at Dibrugarh Government Girls’ Higher Secondary and Multi Purpose School here.
The literacy club will focus on educating students on legal rights, fundamental rights and duties and the availability of legal aid through legal services institutions. 19 other schools in Dibrugarh will be equipped with legal literacy clubs in the coming days.
Speaking after the inaugural function, Justice Gogoi said that it was imperative on the part of the legal authorities to expand its reach to the grassroots in order to make people from the weaker and marginalized sections of the society, to make them aware of their rights.
Stressing that every individual must reap the benefits of the flagship programmes of the central and state government, Justice Gogoi said it was the duty of the legal services authorities to act as watchdog and bridge the gap between the public and all stakeholders by coordinating with the government authorities.
“The role of the legal services institutions goes beyond the scope of only giving legal aid. Justice for all means justice has to be provided to all those who are in need of justice. They must undertake awareness activities in order to make people aware about their rights and about the role, activities and functioning of the legal services institutions. Legal aids must be accessible to the last mile individual,” Justice Gogoi said.
The Supreme Court judge earlier participated in a legal awareness programme at Dibrugarh University. On Saturday he had inaugurated a legal awareness camp at Mukalbari tea estate. He also inaugurated a digitalized legal aid clinic at the Dibrugarh Central Jail.
