Indore: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on Saturday said justice cannot remain confined to courtrooms and must reach every individual as a constitutional commitment.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day West Zone Regional Conference on ‘Enhancing Access to Justice’ at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore, Meghwal said the conference represented a vision for shaping the future of India’s justice system.
“This two-day conference is not merely an event; it represents a vision that will guide the future of India’s justice system,” Meghwal said.
He said India is globally known as the ‘Mother of Democracy’, but the country’s civilisational identity was not limited to democracy. For centuries, Indian traditions had emphasised the rule of law, natural justice, consensus-building, dialogue, mediation and public welfare, he said.
Meghwal said Indian thought was rooted in morality, equality and human dignity, principles that were also reflected in the Constitution.
“This is precisely why the framers of our Constitution accorded the foremost place to ‘Justice’ in the Preamble. Social, economic and political justice are not just three words; they constitute the cornerstone of India’s constitutional philosophy,” he said.
The conference is being held from August 8 to 9 under the joint auspices of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, the Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority and the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief of NALSA Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the conference along with other judges by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Specially-abled children welcomed the judges at the venue.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA Justice Vikram Nath, Supreme Court Judge and Supervising Judge of the Goa State Legal Services Authority Justice Manmohan, Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Patron-in-Chief of the Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority Justice Vivek Rusia, Justice Anand Pathak and judges from High Courts in the western zone are attending the conference.
Judicial officers, officials from legal services authorities and other stakeholders are also participating in the conference, which aims to deliberate on ways to make justice more accessible, inclusive and people-centric.
The first technical session will focus on ‘Mediation beyond the courts: Building a culture of dialogue, community resolution, and inclusive participation’. The discussions will focus on strengthening mediation and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms and developing a wider culture of dialogue to resolve disputes beyond conventional courtroom proceedings.
(IANS)
