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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Technology can bring legal aid to doorstep: SC judge
Using technology 'thoughtfully and inclusively…can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system', said Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant Saturday, and underlined that it cannot, however, replace the human element and 'the heart of justice must remain human'. Speaking at the Justice RC Lahoti Memorial Lecture in Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, on 'Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Legal Aid in the Digital Age for Inclusive Justice in India', Justice Kant said: 'With the right vision and safeguards, technology can break geographical barriers, democratise legal awareness, and bring legal aid to the doorstep — or rather the palm of every citizen. If harnessed thoughtfully and inclusively, it can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system.' He said that though the country has made big technological strides, 'yet, access to justice remains largely analogue.' 'Courts are online, laws are also digitised, but quality legal aid has yet to trickle down to the last person in line. The digital divide has become the new face of inequality,' Justice Kant said. Emphasising the need 'to address the challenges faced by linguistic and cultural minorities,' Justice Kant said that 'digital platforms must not only be multilingual but also culturally nuanced' and 'when citizens see their own stories, customs, and worldviews reflected in legal education content, barriers of alienation and mistrust crumble, making way for genuine engagement and confidence in the system.' Justice Kant called for holding virtual Lok Adalats by harnessing secure video platforms but cautioned that 'the excitement of technology must be tempered with restraint. The digital divide is very real.' 'No technology is neutral. The tools we build reflect the values we embed in them. As we digitise legal aid, we must design systems with built-in ethics. Privacy must be paramount…' he said. Justice Kant said, 'artificial intelligence algorithms must be designed to flag, not exacerbate, the biases so entrenched in society' and that 'privacy by design, user consent, and continuous public oversight should be the hallmarks of all digital legal solutions, assuring citizens that their quest for justice does not come at the cost of their security or dignity.'
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Technology is powerful but cannot replicate human touch in justice delivery or legal aid: Justice Surya Kant
Supreme Court judge, Justice Surya Kant, said that though technology can make justice delivery systems and legal aid efficient, it cannot replace the human touch. 'Technology is only a tool. The heart of justice must remain human... In a world where machines write poetry and algorithms predict behaviour, we must remember: justice is still a human act. It is not rendered by bandwidth but by conscience. The greatness of the law lies not in authority, but in service; not in rigidity, but in compassion,' Justice Kant said. He was speaking on bridging the 'digital gap' and 'reimagining legal aid in the digital age for inclusive justice in India' at the Justice RC Lahoti Memorial Lecture on Saturday. His speech touched on significant statements regarding the limitations of technology in the field of law. Justice Kant is the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and in line for appointment as the next Chief Justice of India in November as per the seniority norm. The senior top court judge said the legal aid system cannot become a 'factory of canned responses'. 'Automated systems are efficient, but they cannot replace the human touch. Legal aid cannot become a factory of canned responses; it must not reduce people's problems to ticket numbers. There must always be a human fallback — someone to listen, explain, and reassure,' he said. The judge said human empathy was central to justice, whether it was a lawyer responding to a distressed call, a judge presiding over a video-enabled hearing or even a chatbot answering a query. Technology was powerful, but could not replicate the human element at the heart of legal aid. Pointing to Article 39A of the Constitution, Justice Kant said the constitutional provision called upon the State to provide free legal aid to ensure that no citizen was denied justice owing to economic or other disabilities. He said India was among the few nations to constitutionally mandate legal aid. 'Yet, the stark truth is that vast sections of our population — rural citizens, the urban poor, women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly — still encounter formidable barriers in accessing justice. These may be barriers of awareness, geography, language, money, physical mobility, or social stigma,' Justice Kant noted.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Technology can break geographical barriers, bring legal aid to doorstep: SC judge Surya Kant
Chandigarh, Supreme Court judge Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised that technology can break barriers and bring legal aid to the doorstep of every citizen and said if harnessed inclusively, it can bridge persistent gaps in the judicial system. Technology can break geographical barriers, bring legal aid to doorstep: SC judge Surya Kant The digital divide is very real, he said and asserted that "the task before us is not simply to create digital solutions, but to ensure that these solutions are inclusive". Justice Kant was delivering the 'Justice R C Lahoti Memorial Lecture' at Manav Rachna University in Haryana's Faridabad on the topic of 'Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Legal Aid in the Digital Age for Inclusive Justice in India.' Noting that Article 39A of the Constitution calls upon the state to provide free legal aid to ensure that no citizen is denied justice because of economic or other disabilities, he said India is among the few nations to constitutionally mandate legal aid. "Yet, the stark truth is that vast sections of our population rural citizens, the urban poor, women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly still encounter formidable barriers in accessing justice," observed Justice Kant. He said these may be barriers of awareness, geography, language, money, physical mobility or social stigma. "Legal aid, as we have conceived it for decades, has often been limited to the provision of free or subsidised legal representation," he said. "More than seven decades since Independence, we must ask: Is justice truly accessible to all? For millions across India migrant workers, tribal communities, daily wage earners, women abandoned by families, undertrial prisoners the legal system remains distant and unintelligible," he said. Access is hampered not only by poverty but also by illiteracy, gender, caste, and now, digital exclusion, said Justice Kant. Citing his recent visit to Srinagar for the launch of some National Legal Services Authority schemes, he said a young tribal boy shared the hardships his community continues to face despite many schemes and welfare measures. "What he said has stayed with me: that all the welfare schemes will remain ineffective until the tribal families get sustenance so that they can afford to send their children to school and get the basic education that may qualify them to take advantage of benefits like reservations in employment. "His words were a poignant reminder that justice and welfare must begin with the fundamentals, without which empowerment remains incomplete," he said. Justice Kant said the current framework rooted predominantly in brick-and-mortar models of service delivery faces inherent limitations and said in this context, the digital revolution presents a compelling opportunity. Justice Kant said the digital age has transformed how we live, communicate, learn and interact with institutions. "Technology is not a panacea, but it is an extraordinary enabler. India today has nearly 1.2 billion mobile connections, and approximately 85.5 per cent of households possess at least one smartphone," he said. Yet, access to justice remains largely analogue, he said, adding that courts are online, laws are also digitised, but quality legal aid has yet to trickle down to the last person in line. "The digital divide has become the new face of inequality. But herein lies the opportunity. With the right vision and safeguards, technology can break geographical barriers, democratise legal awareness, and bring legal aid to the doorstep, or rather the palm of every citizen. "If harnessed thoughtfully and inclusively, it can bridge the persistent gaps in our justice system," he said. Noting that in the country, mobile phone penetration far surpasses internet-equipped computers, he said NALSA's legal literacy programmes must be recast for the digital age. "Imagine a NALSA 'Companion' mobile application, offering step-by-step guidance, accessible in every scheduled language, using voice, video, and text. It could answer fundamental legal queries, explain rights and entitlements, and connect the users to volunteer lawyers or paralegals," he said. "Pre-recorded legal advice via interactive voice response can serve the visually impaired or illiterate. Artificial Intelligence can simplify legal documents, translate orders into regional languages," he said. He said virtual Lok Adalats should also become a reality by harnessing secure video platforms. "Case hearings, especially for family disputes, minor civil issues, labour disputes, can happen with minimum travel and cost, saving litigants time and resources. "Artificial intelligence, if ethically and transparently deployed, can be another game-changer in helping screen cases, prioritise urgent needs, and even generate first-level documents," he said. He also shared that in remote villages of Assam, paralegals are now using mobile phones to record testimonials of domestic violence and connect survivors to pro bono counsel in real time. "During the pandemic, virtual Lok Adalats in Maharashtra disposed of thousands of cases, helping workers recover unpaid wages without stepping outside their homes. In Tamil Nadu, legal aid chatbots in Tamil have been deployed to answer questions on land rights and tenancy," he said. While discussing the untapped potential of technology, Justice Kant cautioned that the excitement of technology must be tempered with restraint. Stating that digital legal aid cannot succeed if citizens are unfamiliar with basic technology, he emphasised that this is the right time for all the stakeholders, including educational institutions, to launch mass campaigns on digital literacy, prioritising women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and rural youth. He also said confidentiality and security are extremely non-negotiable aspects of the digital legal aid programme and said, "As we digitise legal aid, we must design systems with built-in ethics." "Privacy must be paramount; all platforms handling sensitive legal data must comply with rigorous data protection standards. Digital legal aid platforms must be built to serve persons with disabilities, those who use screen readers, and the digitally less literate," he said. "Legal aid cannot become a factory of canned responses. It must not reduce people's problems to ticket numbers. There must always be a human fallback, someone to listen, explain, and reassure. Justice must still listen," he stressed. He further said the role of government and the judiciary as catalysts cannot be overstated. "With ongoing digital initiatives such as Digitally Accessible India, the JAM trinity, and the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, the groundwork is being laid for comprehensive justice reform. To fully realise these ambitions, these government-led digital strategies must converge with justice sector reforms. Meanwhile, the judiciary must remain adaptable, continually updating procedures to seamlessly incorporate digital evidence, remote testimony and electronic records, said the Supreme Court judge. He said that through such collaborative synergy, "we can bring the promise of inclusive digital justice closer to reality". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Guru Tegh Bahadur Chair at Punjabi University suffers neglect amid funding row
Patiala: As Punjab and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) clash over the commemoration of Guru Tegh Bahadur's 350th martyrdom anniversary, concerns are mounting over the severe neglect and underfunding of the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur National Integration Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala. Established in 1993 as the National Integration Chair and renamed in 2005 to honour the ninth Sikh Guru, the Chair was intended to promote research and awareness of Guru Tegh Bahadur's philosophy, sacrifice, and teachings. However, it has suffered from severe underfunding and administrative apathy over the years. From 1993 to 1996, the Chair was independently headed by Prof H S Deol. Since then, it operated under ad hoc arrangements, with additional charge handed to university faculty due to persistent financial constraints. In 2024, the Chair was formally attached to the history department, with its head Dr Sandeep Kaur serving as its in-charge. "Two books have been published focusing on Guru Tegh Bahadur's life and teachings, and a third is expected to release around the 350th martyrdom anniversary. We have also conducted 14 annual lectures under the Shaheed Nanak Singh Memorial Lecture series, and a week-long workshop was held in 2013," Dr Kaur said. Former in-charge Daljit Singh, who served for eight years, said eight books were published during his tenure. Yet, faculty members lament the Chair's lack of autonomy and consistent financial backing. "Only an initial grant of about Rs 5 lakh was allocated by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee in 2005, with no fresh funds sanctioned thereafter," a senior professor said. "A dedicated head and proper funding could have vastly amplified its impact, particularly for research on Guru Tegh Bahadur's travels," the professor added. Despite recent eagerness to commemorate the Guru's martyrdom, a university delegation's oral request for funding was reportedly denied. Punjabi University vice-chancellor Dr Jagdeep Singh confirmed efforts to secure support. "We have written to the central govt requesting a grant of around Rs 10 crore and also sought Rs 5crore from the state govt to revive the Chair and support research," he said. "However, since the Chair was originally established by the Centre, funding has become entangled in Centre-state dynamics," he added. MSID:: 122995075 413 |
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
K.S. Aiyar Memorial Lecture at IIPA on Aug 2
The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Karnataka Regional Branch, will host the K.S. Aiyar Memorial Lecture on August 2. Justice B.V. Nagarathna of the Supreme Court of India will deliver the lecture on the theme 'Good Governance under the Constitution of India.' Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh will be the chief guest. The event will be held at 4 p.m. at the Multipurpose Hall, Infantry Road.
