Governor Kavinder Gupta today inaugurated the Nyaya Prabodh– Awakening to Justice campaign during the regional workshop and reform Utsav organized by the Union department of Justice at the government college Dharamshala in Kangra district. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that Indian democracy was based on justice, equality and the rule of law.
He stressed that the constitution not only guarantees rights but also ensures dignity and equal access to justice for every citizen. The Governor said that Article 39A of the constitution entrusts the state with the responsibility of ensuring that no individual was denied justice due to economic or other disabilities and that free legal aid was made available to needy.
The justice was not confined to obtaining decisions in courts but encompasses the creation of a society where every citizen feels secure, respected and empowered. He said that ensuring access to justice was particularly challenging in remote areas of Himachal Pradesh.
However, the technology, digital services, legal awareness programmes and local support systems were helping bring justice closer to the people. He lauded initiatives such as DISHA, Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and legal awareness campaigns for making legal services more accessible.
He welcomed the launch of the Nyaya Prabodh-Awakening to Justice campaign and said that legal awareness was the first step towards ensuring justice for all. He also encouraged the advocates and law students to support the Pro Bono Pledge and providing free legal assistance to the disadvantaged groups.
The Governor said recent reforms, including improved judicial infrastructure, digitization, e-courts, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and stronger legal aid services, have made the justice system more transparent, efficient and citizen-friendly. He urged the young people to see the constitution as a guide for life, not just an academic subject.
Union Minister of State for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the executive and the judiciary both derive their authority from the constitution and work together in service of the nation. He said that the government was committed to improve access to justice, especially in remote areas and would make all possible efforts toward strengthening the judicial system.
He said that common service centres and tele-law have helped people who face geographical or financial barriers by providing free legal advice from expert lawyers, with the costs covered by the Government of India. Shri Meghwal further said that many people were still unaware of these services and the purpose of such workshops was to increase awareness and informing citizens about recent legal and judicial reforms.
The department of Justice formally launched the Nyaya Prabodh-Awakening to Justice campaign under the DISHA programme on this occasion. The beneficiaries of the tele-law service also shared their experiences and spoke about its positive impact.
Member of Parliament Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj, MLAs Bhawani Singh Pathania and Sudhir Sharma, Secretary (Justice), Government of India Neeraj Verma, Joint Secretary Suresh Kumar were also present on the occasion.