Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Sunday underscored that legal aid must be treated not as an act of benevolence but as a moral and constitutional obligation. Speaking at the valedictory function of the national conference on โStrengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanismsโ and the celebration of โLegal Services Dayโ, the Chief Justice said those working in the legal aid movement should view their roles with โadministrative imaginationโ to ensure that justice truly reaches the most marginalized.
Legal Aid as a Governance Responsibility
โLegal aid is not merely an act of charity but a moral duty. It is an exercise in governance, in ensuring that the rule of law extends to every corner of our country,โ CJI Gavai said, urging legal aid officers, administrators, and volunteers to think like โadministrators of justice.โ
He emphasized that every effort, resource, and initiative must be designed to uplift individuals in need, stating that the system should ensure โevery rupee spent, every visit made, and every intervention carried out truly uplifts someone in need.โ
Proposal for Advisory Committees at NALSA and SLSAs
To strengthen institutional continuity, CJI Gavai proposed the creation of an advisory committee at both the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs). These committees, he suggested, should comprise current and future executive chairpersons to maintain consistency in long-term projects and policies.
He explained that while individual executive chairpersons bring diversity of ideas, their limited tenure often hinders sustained implementation of policies. โTo address this, I suggest an advisory committeeโฆ comprising the current executive chairpersons and two or three future or incoming executive chairpersons. This committee could meet quarterly or every six months to discuss and oversee projects with a long-term perspective,โ he said.
Strengthening Institutional Continuity and Collaboration
CJI Gavai reflected on his time as NALSAโs executive chairman, recalling how he worked closely with Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath across various states. He said such teamwork should become an institutional model to promote continuity and shared accountability.
โSuch an arrangement would help institutionalise vision-based planning and ensure that key programmesโwhether related to access to justice, awareness, or digital transformationโare carried forward consistently, regardless of administrative changes,โ he added.
โEmpathy Must Guide Legal Aid Officersโ
As he prepares to demit office on November 23, the CJI left a message for judicial officers serving in legal services institutions, urging them to combine empathy with efficiency. โJudicial training often teaches us to maintain a certain distanceโฆ But the work of legal aid demands the opposite sensibility: it requires empathy, collaboration, and the ability to see beyond procedure into the conditions that produce injustice,โ he observed.
He highlighted that legal aid officers must engage actively with government departments, civil society organisations, and citizens, adding that many government officials across states have shown strong cooperation in ensuring benefits reach the needy.
Recognising the Role of Volunteers
CJI Gavai called for greater respect and recognition for volunteers and legal aid counsel, calling them โthe backboneโ of the movement. โThe sustainability and success of the legal aid movement depend on these dedicated individuals,โ he said.
โWhen Compassion Meets Commitment, Real Transformation Happensโ
Marking NALSAโs 30th anniversary, CJI Gavai reflected on the journey of Indiaโs legal aid system and the challenges ahead. โThe past three decades have shown that when compassion meets commitment, and when law meets human experience, real transformation becomes possible. Yet, this journey is far from complete,โ he said.
He concluded by calling for deeper collaboration between the judiciary, executive, and civil society, integration of technology with human sensitivity, and a focus on restoring dignity rather than chasing numerical targets.
โThe legal aid movement stands as one of the finest expressions of our Constitutionโs soulโas a bridge between the letter of law and the lived realities of people,โ the Chief Justice said.
The event, organised by NALSA, was attended by CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, and other judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts.
