Economic, linguistic obstacles are obstacles to the poor in access to courts, legal education: CJI

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai On Wednesday (September 17, 2025) said that geographical, economic and language barriers have followed as formidable obstacles for marginalized and vulnerable citizens in access to courts and legal education.

“In many parts of the country, the nearest court or law study remains physically out of reach, creating a justice gorge for those who live in rural and remote areas,” said chief judge Gavai in his speech at the first professor nr Madhava Menon Memorial Lecture about ‘Legal and Justice education @2047:

The event also saw the launch of three books – Sustainability and existence: Legal strategies for a green planet And Laws for disaster management in Asia: a retrospectBoth edited by Prof. dr. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar; And Law and Society: During and Post Covid Pandemic Published by Mr Sivakumar and Prof. dr. (Dr.) Lisa P. Lukose.

Justice Surya Kant, who is the next supreme judge of India, according to the seniority standard, said that compassion and conscience should control the Justice Administration.

“Let algorithms plan hearings, but let compassion arrange the procedure. Let software find precedents, but let the conscience find proportion. In 2047 the machine can help, but people have to answer,” said Justice Kant in his address.

Chief judge Gavai noted that linguistic exclusion and economic disadvantage had led to eternal alienation and marginalization.

“Linguistic exclusion has also perpetuated alienation, with legal education and procedures dominated by languages ​​that are not known to large parts of our people. If the law really needs to be a tool for empowerment, dismantling these barriers is essential,” noted Chief Justice Gavai.

Justice Kant said that from 2047 the lawyer should be fluent in two languages ​​- “the language of the law and the language of the people”.

The supreme judge said that legal education should be conceived and expanded with the help of technology to promote instructions in regional languages, to strengthen legal aid and to create paths for students of the first generation.