33 Multi-Utility Vehicles Flagged Off For DLSAs In Assam To Boost Last-Mile Access To Justice

In a significant step towards strengthening legal aid delivery across the State, 33 multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) have been flagged off for the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) of Assam. The vehicles will be customized and deployed to enhance outreach in remote and vulnerable regions where access to justice remains limited.

The vehicles were flagged off at a programme attended by Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and Patron-in-Chief of the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA), along with Justice Michael Zothankhuma, Judge of the Gauhati High Court and Executive Chairman of ASLSA and other Judges of the Gauhati High Court.

Nearly Three Decades Without Dedicated Transport

Established in 1998, the DLSAs in Assam have discharged their statutory mandate for nearly three decades without official vehicles. Despite severe logistical challenges, they have continued to deliver legal aid to marginalized and underprivileged communities.

Assam's diverse and difficult terrain — marked by recurring floods, remote riverine islands (chars), tea garden areas, and poor road connectivity — often makes physical access to justice mechanisms difficult. Legal services authorities are required to extend services beyond court premises to flood relief camps, remote villages, and vulnerable populations where legal assistance is often inaccessible.

Officials noted that operating without dedicated vehicles posed a major challenge to outreach efforts.

Mobility Essential for Legal Aid Delivery

Recognizing that mobility is essential for effective legal service delivery, Justice Surya Kant, during his tenure as Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), permitted State Legal Services Authorities to procure multi-utility vehicles for each DLSA.

Subsequently, Justice Vikram Nath, the present Executive Chairman of NALSA, emphasized the importance of providing vehicles to strengthen grassroots outreach.

Bolero Fleet to Serve Remote Regions

Pursuant to these directions and under the guidance of Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Michael Zothankhuma, 33 Mahindra & Mahindra Bolero vehicles have been procured. These will be customized and deployed as multi-utility vehicles for district legal services institutions.

With the induction of these vehicles, DLSAs are expected to significantly enhance their capacity to reach remote communities, ensuring that legal aid and justice delivery mechanisms effectively serve marginalized, underprivileged, and voiceless sections of society across the State.

The initiative is expected to strengthen last-mile access to justice and improve legal awareness and outreach in some of the most geographically challenging regions of the country.