NALSA Holds North Zone Regional Conference On “Enhancing Access to Justice” In Dehradun; Justice J.K. Maheshwari Emphasises People-Centric Justice System

The inaugural session was graced by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, who delivered the inaugural address. The session was also addressed by Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Judges of the Supreme Court of India, along with Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand and Patron-in-Chief of UKSLSA, Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Judge of the High Court of Uttarakhand and Executive Chairman of UKSLSA, and Justice Alok Kumar Verma, Judge of the High Court of Uttarakhand and Chairman of the Uttarakhand High Court Legal Services Committee.

In his inaugural address, Justice J.K. Maheshwari invoked the words of John Rawls, stating that justice must remain the foremost virtue of social institutions. He emphasised that legal systems must not only exist but must effectively respond to human realities, underscoring the need for a truly people-centric justice delivery framework.

Justice Sandeep Mehta, in his address, appreciated the selection of themes for the conference, noting their relevance to marginalised communities. Stressing the Gandhian principle of focusing on the “last person in the queue,” he observed that access to justice must be evaluated by its reach to those most excluded from institutional processes.

Justice N. Kotiswar Singh highlighted that legal aid is intrinsically linked to the livelihoods and lived realities of people. He stated that strengthening legal aid mechanisms is essential to uphold constitutional values, the rule of law, and democratic principles.

The first day of the conference featured two technical sessions addressing key aspects of access to justice.

The first session, titled “Effective Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006: From Recognition to Realization,” was chaired by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, with Justice N. Kotiswar Singh as Co-Chair. The session included contributions from Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Ms. Anitha Shenoy, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Ms. Shomona Khanna, Advocate, Supreme Court of India. The discussions examined the historical context of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the status of individual and community claims, and challenges in recognising community forest rights. A representative from the Van Gujjar community also shared lived experiences and highlighted practical challenges in securing recognition of rights.

The second session, titled “Prison Reforms, Undertrial Justice & Human-Centric Legal Aid,” was chaired by Justice Sandeep Mehta. It featured Justice Arun Bansali, Chief Justice of the High Court of Allahabad, Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari, along with Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Prof. (Dr.) Vartika Nanda of Delhi University and Founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation. The session focused on issues relating to undertrial incarceration, humane treatment of prisoners, and institutional accountability. It emphasised a rights-based approach to legal aid, digital reforms in prison administration, and rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners.

The conference will continue on April 12, 2026, with further deliberations, including sessions on “Justice for Acid Attack Survivors: Compensation, Rehabilitation & Dignity-Centric Support” and “Strengthening Legal Protection & Support Systems for Women and Children.”