'Every Life, Every Right': NALSA Celebrates Human Rights Day 2024

The National Legal Services Authority celebrated 'Human Rights Day- 2024' on 10th December under the theme 'Every Right, Every Life' at the Supreme Court of India. The event was graced by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief, NALSA; Justice B.R. Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA; Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee; and Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge). Judges of the Supreme Court of India also graced the occasion. Ld. Member Secretary, NALSA and other officers of NALSA; Ld. Secretary, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee; Officers of the Supreme Court Registry; Senior Bureaucrats; Members of Supreme Court Bar Association and Supreme Court Advocate on Records Association etc. also attended the program. This year, 10th December marked the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)- a document that has been the beacon of hope globally, documenting the international commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all human beings, regardless of their race, religion, gender or background. Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, stated in his address that “Human Rights are not merely abstract ideals but they are the foundation upon which we build a just society. Today, as we celebrate this day, we honour the work done by Organizations, Institutions and Individuals, who have worked tirelessly to bring these rights into the lived experiences of the most vulnerable and marginalised”. Justice Surya Kant, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee commended NALSA for coming up with a special campaign for Old prisoners and terminally ill prisoners. He stated that there was a thin line of difference between appropriate and inappropriate detention and no matter who the incarcerated person is, he should be provided with adequate and competent medical care and attention. Thus, a consideration on compassionate grounds is necessary to protect their dignity at this stage of their lives. Justice B.R. Gavai, Executive Chairman, NALSA, in his address, reaffirmed NALSA's commitment to safeguarding the human rights of all individuals in India by providing free legal aid mechanisms. He highlighted that the focus of NALSA's activities is to empower the citizens and to make justice accessible to them, even in the remotest locations of India. He shared that NALSA's vision over the next few months has a focus on ensuring that its free services are known to every citizen in this country, enhancing the reach of legal services through the NALSA Toll-Free National Helpline, and in ensuring access to prompt and effective legal services at all stages of the inquiry, investigation and a criminal proceeding. He ended his address with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. … Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.” In his Presidential Address, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, and Patron-in-Chief, NALSA, termed Human Rights as the bedrock of human society which is imperative for ensuring global peace. Quoting President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu and citing the need to counter the 'Blackcoat System', which arise because of deep seated fear and sense of alienation among the common man towards the criminal justice system, CJI Khanna called for compassionate and humane justice system by simplification of laws and decolonisation of laws. With the aim to promote Human Rights and ensure access to justice for all, NALSA also launched a “Special Campaign for Old Prisoners and Terminally- ill Prisoners”, on this momentous occasion. This three-months long campaign will be carried on by Legal Services Institutions across the country from 10th December 2024 to 10th March 2025. The underlying objective of this Campaign is to expedite the release of old prisoners and terminally- ill prisoners by providing them effective legal aid services, keeping in mind the individual vulnerabilities and needs of such prisoners. It aims to identify such prisoners; move appropriate applications for their release and for ensuring humane treatment for such prisoners who cannot be released; and facilitate the societal and familial reintegration of old prisoners and terminally- ill prisoners after their release. The immediate spur for this campaign was the recent case of a 93-years old woman prisoner confined in a prison in Karnataka, who was released on parole after quick intervention pursuant of the Legal Services Institutions in Karnataka. ...

'Every Life, Every Right': NALSA Celebrates Human Rights Day 2024

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