Threat To Human Rights & Bodily Integrity Highest At Police Stations : CJI NV Ramana

The Chief Justice of India NV Ramana expressed concerns at the degree of human rights violations in police stations in the country."The threat to human rights and bodily integrity are the highest in Police Station", the CJI said."Custodial torture and other police atrocities are problems which still prevail in our society. In spite of constitutional declarations and guarantees, lack of effective legal representation at the police stations is a huge detriment to arrested/detained. Going by the recent reports even the privileged are not spared third - degree treatment ", he added.The CJI was delivering the key note address at an event organized by the National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) on Sunday to launch the "Vision and Mission Statement" and mobile app for the NALSA.To keep police excesses in check, the CJI said that dissemination of information about the constitutional right to legal aid and availability of free legal aid services is necessary. "The installation of display boards and outdoor hoardings in every Police Station/Prison is a step in this direction", he said. The CJI underscored that the NALSA must actively carry out nationwide sensitization of Police Officers.The CJI said that despite the Covid-19 pandemic NALSA has been successfully been able to continue our legal aid services. However, he highlighted the need for the NALSA to make collaborative efforts to ensure that poor connectivity in rural and remote areas do not hamper access to justice. He suggested that the services of postal department can also be utilized to increase awareness about legal aid."The services of the existing postal network can be utilized to spread awareness regarding the availability of free legal aid services and to increase the outreach of legal services to the eligible category of persons, especially to the persons residing in rural and far-flung areas of the country.The service rendered by the post office and post-man will bridge the gap between people who are deprived of access to justice due to geographical constraints and will reduce the divide between the rural and urban population".While appreciating the efforts put in by various stakeholders of the legal services authorities, the Chief Justice urged all lawyers, especially seniors, to dedicate some percentage of their working hours to help those in need.The CJI also said that media was an important stakeholder in this important mission."I have an appeal to make to the media as well. It is the mass media which has the unparalleled capacity to spread the message of service. You are also stakeholders in this important mission", he said. Justice UU Lalit, the Executive Chairman of NALSA, also spoke during the event. Separate report about Justice Lalit's address may be read here.Read Full Tex of the key note address delivered by CJI NV Ramana : "At the outset, I must thank Brother Justice Lalit for inviting me to be a part of this event. Having been the Chairman of NALSA, the activities of NALSA are very close to my heart. Today, we have gathered here to release NALSA's vision and mission statement along with legal services mobile application.Incidentally, this day, i.e., 8th August, 79 years ago, marked the turning point in India's freedom struggle. Our freedom fighters, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, appealed to the masses to overthrow a power which only gave them a "dominion status". It was this deep-rooted desire to end inequality and discrimination, that lead the masses to call for the "Quit India Movement". The concept of free legal aid to the needy has its roots in the freedom movement. Those days, the legal luminaries rendered pro-bono services to freedom fighters, who were targeted by the colonial rulers.This spirit of service found reflection in the Constitution, with those very same legal luminaries serving as members of the Constituent Assembly. Today, I pay my humble respects to our freedom fighters, who shaped the "Constitutional Vision of Justice." As the years progressed, the need was felt to institutionalise the mechanism for extending legal aid to those in need. Thus, came into force the National Legal Services Authority Act, 1987. The legal aid movement, which started 25 years ago, has gained new momentum. Undoubtedly, ours is one of the largest legal aid systems in the world, with 75% of the population being eligible for its benefits. Although, a majority of our population is eligible for the aforesaid services, it is an undeniable truth that, still, there are significant barriers in accessing the relevant legal information. Hence, events like today's assume great importance.If we want to remain as a society governed by the rule of law, it is imperative for us to bridge the gap of accessibility to justice between the highly privileged and the most vulnerable. For all times to come, we must remember that,...

Threat To Human Rights & Bodily Integrity Highest At Police Stations : CJI NV Ramana

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