Need to make poor aware of free legal services: Sathasivam

Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam today emphasised on the need to make socially and economically backward people aware about free legal services, saying the legal fraternity should ensure that the poor get justice.
Inaugurating the 12th All India Meet of Legal Services Board here, Sathasivam said he hoped detailed discussions would be held on facilitating socially and economically backward people with legal facilities.
He expressed satisfaction that considerable effort had been made by all related institutions in the task of providing justice to the poor and insisted that all stakeholders will have to play an important role in this regard.

"All associated stakeholders will have to play an important role and this work has to be done in tune with the spirit of the constitution from tehsil up to the Supreme Court level," the Chief Justice said.
Stressing on the need to extend legal services to the weaker sections of the society, he said the agenda should be to provide aid to those who cannot reach it.
"Media, social workers and advocates should play an active role in the spirit of the constitution as legal aid is not charity but the right of the people," he said.

He also stressed on the importance of holding legal literacy camps at places like slums and labourer colonies so that people get information about their legal rights besides free legal services available.

Stressing on the importance of legal information, he said this awareness would also help in reducing ills in the society and strengthen democracy.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was the special guest at the event, stressed on the need to create awareness regarding free legal aid to poor.