New Delhi:The Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud Monday said it is imperative to amplify the justice needs of the under-represented populations in our country.
Speaking at the first Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid organised by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in the capital, Justice Chandrachud said the discourse about human rights and access to justice has historically been monopolised by voices from the Global North (industrialised nations) which makes such dialogues unsuitable.
The CJI said given the intricate web of transnational relations in the present age, our concepts of justice have also changed and in transnational relationships, all nations are not treated equally. “However, some nations share a sense of solidarity and belonging. It is here that constructed categories such as Global South become important points of collaboration, dialogue and deliberation”, he said.
Justice Chandrachud said several nations in the Global South, including India, have historically been at the receiving end of imperialism or colonial rule and this history resulted in a relationship of unequal power with such nations being forced into the periphery of the economy.
He said by 2030 it is projected that three of the four largest economies will be from the Global South and the GDP in terms of purchasing power of the Global South-dominated BRICS nations surpasses that of the Global North G7 Club. “This conference serves as a starting point for the nations to expand beyond mere economic and trade alliances and make cooperation between our legal systems a key priority," he said.
Justice Chandrachud said the challenge for judges is not to do justice in the facts of the individual case but to institutionalise the processes and look beyond the immediate as well. "Access to justice is not a right that can be secured only by crafting pro-people jurisprudence in our judgements; rather it requires active progress on the administrative side of the court as well," he said.