President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday afternoon called for increasing women's participation in the judicial system at the historic 150-year-old Allahabad High Court which is India's fourth and country's largest.
He hoped that the judiciary would be successful in ensuring access to justice to all.
Laying the foundation stone of the multi-level parking and advocates chamber in Asia's largest High Court with Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, President Kovind said that the first women to become lawyers in the country were from this high court in 1931.
Referring to the appointment of three women judges to the Supreme Court last month, President Kovind said that the establishment of a just society would be ensured only by the participation of women. He said at present, the participation of women in the judiciary was only 12 per cent.
“We have to increase the belief that justice is within the reach of all,: he said.
President Kovind expressed confidence that the UP National Law University to be built in Jhalwa would become a centre of world class legal education.
“The students coming out from here will become the carriers of just socio-economic development. The university will also be helpful in the direction of becoming a knowledge super power. There cannot have been a better place for this university than Prayagraj,” he said.
President Kovind also mentioned Swami Vivekananda's address in Chicago in his 15-minute speech. He said that on this day 128 years ago, Swami Vivekananda had hailed India and had the world accepted the essence of his address, perhaps 9/11 would not have happened in America.
The President said that the Indian judiciary and the Central and state governments were working together. He also mentioned advocates like Madan Mohan Malviya, Motilal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru and Kailash Nath Katju.
Earlier, UP Governor Anandiben Patel highlighted the historical mythological background of Kumbh city and expressed hope that the law university would prove to be a milestone. She termed it necessary for the quality of legal education and expressed hope that youth educated from here would be able to get justice.
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said “we are committed to provide cheap and easy justice to the common man.”
President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Prayagraj on Saturday. He stayed in Sangam city for about six hours.
In addition to laying the foundation stone of the multi-level parking and advocates chamber in the Allahabad High Court premises, Kovind also laid the foundation stone of the National Law University to be built at Jhalwa.
President Kovind also visited the house of Keshari Nath Tripathi, former speaker of Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and former Governor of West Bengal, and enquired about his well-being.
The President also unveiled an oil painting of senior High Court advocate AB Saran.
The President was accorded a grand welcome at Bamrauli Airport in Prayagraj. Apart from the army officers, he was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Prayagraj Mayor Abhilasha Gupta Nandi. The mayor presented the keys to the city to President Kovind.