Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on Saturday said that the benefits of legal system are meant for all sections of the society but when the poor and illiterate Indians are unable to avail this benefit, the credibility of the legal system and rule of law comes under severe strain.

Highlighting the need for reaching legal aid to the poor, marginalised and illiterate sections of the populations, Justice Khehar said, “In the absence of timely help to most Indians, the credibility of the legal system and the rule of law comes under severe strain.”He was addressing a two-day National Meet of Para-legal Volunteers (PlV) in the Capital on Saturday.

Union law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, also present at the event emphasised that legal aid should come from the heart and not be done for publicity sake. “It should come from commitment and dedication”, said Prasad while indicating that pro bono lawyers are being identified by the Government at district, state and block-level. Earlier, at a previous function, the law Minister had revealed that pro bono legal work by lawyers will be one of the criteria to be considered for selecting judges under the new Memorandum of Procedure.

With PlVs engaged in the work of providing legal aid and legal information to the poor, illiterate masses in the country, the CJI lauded their service to the justice dispensation system. He compared the service done by PlVs to be a “super divine duty” more than the “divine duty” discharged by judges.

Justice Dipak Misra, the Executive Chairman of NAlSA spoke about the importance of PlVs as this year had been dedicated as the year of excellence to “Access to Justice through Para-legal volunteers”. It will be the job of these volunteers to inform the masses about government schemes and to help redress their grievances, Justice Misra said.

CJI urged the gathering of PlVs to be skill-driven in their approach by conducing proper research and investigate facts or laws related to a case before reaching to the intended section of society. Union law Minister added to it the need for incorporating technology. He said a move is afoot to link Government’s scheme of common service centre (CSC) in villages and small towns with access to justice. This will benefit Dalit women, Kashmiri women and people from North East to get access to justice,” the Minister added.