Justice is only justice if it is accessible, visible, and rooted in human dignity, Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant said on Saturday, cautioning that digitization without inclusion risks creating a ‘new face of inequality.’
Delivering the Justice RC Lahoti Memorial Lecture on ‘From Legislation to Liberation: Strengthening Legal Aid for the Marginalized in a Changing India’, Justice Surya Kant urged the adoption of a people-centric, technology-driven approach to secure genuine access to justice.
Justice Kant paid tribute to former Chief Justice Lahoti’s pioneering role in setting up the Supreme Court’s mediation committee and e-committee.
Justice Kant noted that while Article 39A mandates free legal aid, its promise remains ‘only partially fulfilled.’
He said: ‘Marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities, women, and children, continue to face barriers, compounded today by the digital divide.’
Justice Kant emphasised that mediators must know local languages and dialects to connect emotionally with litigants.
He cited the example of a daily wage worker in Bihar needing accessible, voice-based, multilingual legal tech tools.
Proposing innovations, Justice Kant advocated for multilingual, culturally inclusive digital platforms, virtual Lok Adalats, and ethically deployed AI to inform citizens of their rights and assess legal aid eligibility.
Former Chief Justice UU Lalit also attended the event.
Also Read: Capgemini To Hire 45,000 In 2025 Amid Industry Layoffs: What’s Behind The AI Hiring Boom?
Ankur Mishra is a journalist who covers an extensive range of news, from business, stock markets, IPOs to geopolitics, world affairs, international crises, and general news. With over a decade of experience in the business domain, Ankur has been associated with some of the reputed media brands. Through a sharp eye on global marketplaces along with deep insights and analysis of business strategies, Ankur brings simplicity to the complex economic matrix to decode market trends and empower people.
He is committed to entrenched data, facts, research, solutions, and a dedication to value-based journalism. He has covered trade tariff wars, international alliances, corporate policies, government initiatives, regulatory developments, along with micro- and macroeconomic shifts impacting global fiscal dynamics.
The Beckham family continues to remain in the headlines as fresh rumours suggest that Nicola…
Russia has said it is ready to evacuate its workers from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power…
India’s Vizag loss to New Zealand highlighted key concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup…
