Army Institute of Law, Mohali organized a One Day National Seminar on the theme, Access to Justice in India. The Inaugural Function was held on today, Maj Gen J T Chacko, Chairman, Army Institute of Law addressed the gathering and welcomed them to the National Seminar. The CHIEF GUEST for the occasion was Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ananga Kumar Patnaik, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India. Hailing the seminar as “participative democracy” he also urged the students to play an active role in spreading awareness in the society about various laws and legal remedies which could be taken recourse to. He also emphasized the fact that “justice is not to be sold, not to be delayed, not to be denied. This recipe is the real road to have access to justice”. The event was presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court.
He emphasized the importance of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as an effective way to facilitate dispensation of justice in society. He also encouraged the students to work toward making justice accessible to the needy, free of cost and to take it up as a charitable work. Prof Balram K Gupta, Director (Academics), Chandigarh Judicial Academy was the Keynote Speaker on the occasion. In his keynote address, he highlighted how “the pendency of cases in courts is eating into the vitals of the judiciary” and therefore urged the budding lawyers and the law providers to look for better ways of providing access to justice which is “a basic human right”. The event was concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Tejinder Kaur, Principal, Army Institute of Law.