"It is not enough to have rights, it is necessary that citizens must know they have constitutional, statutory rights. Unless they are made aware they won't come forward to enforce them," said the Supreme Court Judge Justice B. R. Gavai while speaking at an event on 26th April, 2025 commemorating 30 years of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Justice Gavai, the Executive Chairman of NALSA, was addressing the Western Regional Conference at Ekta Nagar in Narmada district, Gujarat, an event jointly organized by NALSA and the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA). Justice Gavai emphasized the importance of constitutional literacy among citizens, noting that the mere existence of rights is insufficient if people are unaware of them.

Reflecting on NALSA's outreach initiatives, Justice Gavai recounted his visits to various parts of the country, including Rajasthan, Ladakh, and the North Eastern states. Sharing a particularly moving experience from Manipur, he said, "We went to Manipur. We have seen in the last 2-3 years Manipur is riddled with the problem of dispute between the 2 ethnic groups of people. Therefore, we went to Kukis and Meiteis. We distributed legal aid material, books to children, medical equipment. We were so moved when we went to Manipur that when we went to the Kuki camp, one senior lady welcomed me and she said 'welcome to your home'."

He added, "India is your home. For every Indian who may be resident of any part of the country, the entire country is home."

Justice Gavai remarked that the conference venue situated near the Statue of Unity honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was ideal for celebrating NALSA's journey. Paying tribute to Patel’s efforts in unifying the nation post-independence, he said, "After independence till couple of years we did not have India, as we have today. So he (Sardar Patel) went to the princely states trying to get them into mainfold by negotiations and wherever not possible using force. Therefore united India we have today the credit goes to Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Therefore for a country like India, for NALSA which reflects the entire country, there could not have been a better place to commemorate or celebrate 30 years journey and to get inspiration for future."

Highlighting the major challenges faced by NALSA, Justice Gavai noted the pressing issue of undertrial prisoners. He informed that NALSA had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking the priority release of undertrial prisoners who are aged or terminally ill.

He further elaborated on NALSA’s efforts to address prison overcrowding: "When we went to prisons immediately after I took over and went to Nagpur central prison, we identified the problems and immediately came out with the NALSA scheme for special provisions of easing out the crowd in the prisons. A special scheme for those who are aged and those facing terminal illness, we came up with a scheme for their release on bail," he said.

In an effort to promote legal awareness, NALSA has launched several initiatives, including broadcasting jingles on Doordarshan and All India Radio and establishing the 15100 helpline number to make legal assistance more accessible.

Justice Gavai reiterated that fulfilling the constitutional promise under Article 39(A)—ensuring equal justice and free legal aid—remains at the core of NALSA’s mission. He asserted, "Dr Ambedkar considered the Constitution to be a weapon for bloodless revolution. And, therefore, NALSA, in a way, is a revolution so as to keep the promise of justice to the needy in reality. NALSA's story is a story of quiet revolution of giving legal empowerment to the last mile citizens of the country."

Emphasizing the role of young minds in this mission, Justice Gavai stated that law students are being actively involved in NALSA’s work through internship programs to instill in them the spirit of service towards the marginalized from an early stage.

Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant, Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, also addressed the gathering. Commending NALSA’s efforts, he said, "NALSA has removed the perception that justice was charity and has been successful in communicating to the people that it is their legal right." He further remarked, "The true measure of justice in a nation is not found in the grandeur of court buildings nor in the volumes of the statutory laws but in the sense of security and fairness felt by the poorest, the most marginalized, and the most voiceless." Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he added, "I do remember Mahatma Gandhi's words that 'the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.' It is reflected in how many of its citizens never had to fear justice."

Several significant initiatives were launched during the event, including the Awareness for Grassroots Rural Information and Transparency Initiative Scheme 2025, supported by a dissemination video, a jingle, an e-launch, and hardbound materials. Also introduced were the revised NALSA (DAWN) – Drug Awareness and Wellness Navigation for a Drug-Free India Scheme, 2025 and NALSA (SAMVAD) – Strengthening Access to Justice for Marginalized, Vulnerable Adivasis and Denotified/Nomadic Tribes Scheme, 2025.

A notable highlight was the release of the "Speak Up" handbook on the POSH Act, 2013, available in both English and Hindi ("आवाज़ उठाओ"), complemented by dissemination videos and hardbound editions. The event also saw the launch of "NALSA@30 - A Legacy of Free Legal Aid", along with impactful videos titled "Lok Adalat: Expanding Justice" and "Mediation First: Towards Peaceful Settlements". Additionally, the digital platform "NALSA @Connect" was introduced to enhance citizen outreach, supported by an explainer video.

The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Boren Vaishnav, Chairman of the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority. Together, they celebrated NALSA’s three-decade-long journey of empowering citizens through free legal aid and pledged to continue advancing justice for all, especially for the most vulnerable sections of society.

Source: News