Marking the occasion of Legal Services Day, Hon’ble Justice Suryakant, Judge, Supreme Court of India, and Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), inaugurated the National Conference on Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms in New Delhi today.
In his welcome address, Justice Suryakant underscored that “the true measure of a justice system is not how swiftly it decides complex cases, but how deeply it touches the lives of ordinary citizens.” He described Legal Services Day as a celebration of the collective endeavour of judges, lawyers, and legal aid institutions that ensure the law reaches every corner of society.
Tracing the evolution of India’s legal aid framework, Justice Suryakant highlighted that the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 gave statutory recognition to the constitutional promise enshrined in Articles 14 and 39A guaranteeing that no citizen is denied legal assistance due to economic or social barriers. “The Act converted constitutional idealism into institutional action,” he said, noting that NALSA has since emerged as the central node connecting State and District Legal Services Authorities, law schools, volunteers, and legal aid workers across the country.
Justice Suryakant emphasised that the outcomes of this nationwide network are “not mere numbers but lives changed.” Millions have been spared prolonged litigation through conciliatory forums, thousands have received free representation, victims have been compensated, and countless disputes have been resolved through mediation, each instance translating the law into “relief and stability for ordinary lives.”
He pointed out that the legal aid movement today extends well beyond traditional boundaries, reaching vulnerable sections through rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, support schemes for families of defence personnel, mediation initiatives, and even outreach for communities affected by human-wildlife conflicts. These, he said, demonstrate how “the law is adapting to social realities.”
Looking ahead, Justice Suryakant called for reforms to make legal assistance simpler, faster, and more empathetic. While recognising the potential of digital platforms such as online legal clinics, virtual conciliations, and digital complaint systems, he stressed that “technology must be guided by local knowledge, linguistic accessibility, and human empathy.”
He urged all stakeholders the judiciary, the Bar, law schools, para-legal volunteers, and civil society to share ownership of the mission to deliver justice. “Strengthening legal aid is not merely about expanding institutional capacity; it is about simplifying the pathway through which a person in distress can access the protection of law,” he observed.
Concluding his address, Justice Suryakant extended gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and all dignitaries present, expressing hope that the Conference would renew the collective commitment to build a justice system that is “pragmatic, dignified, and truly people-centric.”
“In making justice not only accessible but humane, we do more than uphold the Constitution, we fulfil its noblest promise,” he said.