The Chief Justice of India pointed out that discussions on human rights and access to justice have traditionally been dominated by perspectives from the Global North and emphasized the need to address the justice needs of under-represented populations in India.
Access to justice cannot be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in judgments but requires active progress on the administrative side of the court, such as improving infrastructure and enhancing legal aid services, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said on Monday.
Speaking at the first Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) here, Chandrachud said the challenge for judges is not only to do justice in the facts of the individual case but to institutionalize the processes and look beyond the immediate as well.
"Access to justice is not a right that can be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in our judgments; rather, it requires active progress on the administrative side of the court as well," Chandrachud said.
The CJI said the discourse about human rights and access to justice has historically been monopolized by voices from the Global North (industrialized nations), making such dialogues unsuitable. He said it is imperative to amplify the justice needs of the under-represented populations in our country.
Chandrachud said the concept of justice has historically been construed as applicable solely within the confines of a sovereign state.
"Given the intricate web of transnational relations in the present age, our concepts of justice have also changed. In transnational relationships, all nations are not treated equally. However, some nations share a sense of solidarity and belonging. It is here that constructed categories such as Global South become important points of collaboration, dialogue, and deliberation.
"This term is not geographical but based on political, geopolitical, and economic commonalities between certain nations. Several nations in the Global South, including India, have historically been at the receiving end of imperialism or colonial rule. This history resulted in a relationship of unequal power, with such nations being forced into the periphery of the economy. It is for this reason that before academics used the term Global South, terms such as developing, the underdeveloped, or third world gained wide currency," he said.
The CJI said there has been a universal shift in wealth from the Mediterranean to the Asia Pacific.
"By 2030, it is projected that three of the four largest economies will be from the Global South. The GDP in terms of purchasing power of the Global South-dominated BRICS nations surpasses that of the Global North G7 Club, and the reason why we have achieved success is their willingness to recognize the unique needs and collaborate with each other. This conference serves as a starting point for the nations to expand beyond the mere economic and trade alliances and make cooperation between our legal systems a key priority," he said.
This commitment to collaboration between nations of the Global South drives us not only to come together but also serves as a reminder that our institutions play an important role in promoting and upholding the rule of law.
"The complexities of law and process, inequality between citizens and powerful adversaries, judicial delays, and the belief that the system works against marginalized communities are among the various barriers that stand in the way of justice," he said.
Chandrachud said during his tenure as CJI, he has initiated several initiatives for access to justice, and the most potent important weapon in access to justice is technology.
"We are using it to bring the courtroom closer to people. Online streaming of proceedings has taken the court to the hearts and homes of people. It is about creating courtrooms where we make everyone feel welcome, including people from diverse backgrounds beyond caste, gender, etc," he said.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Supreme Court judges SK Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna, and Attorney General R Venkataramani also spoke on the occasion.