'Justice Must Reach Every Doorstep': CJI Highlights Gaps In Legal Access

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday said that the biggest challenge confronting the country’s legal system is not the absence of laws, but the limited access ordinary citizens have to them, stressing that justice must reach “the doorstep of every last citizen” in a timely manner.

Speaking at a two-day North Zone Regional Conference in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, titled “Justice Beyond Barriers: Rights, Rehabilitation, and Reform for the Most Vulnerable,” and organised jointly by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Uttarakhand High Court, and the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority, the Chief Justice underlined the urgent need to bridge the gap between legal rights and their actual availability on the ground.

He noted

that India has a robust framework of rights and policies, but these often fail to benefit those most in need due to “distance, delay, and implementation gaps”. “The mere existence of justice is not sufficient. Rather, it must reach the doorstep of every last citizen in a timely manner. The strength of a republic should be measured not by its declared rights, but by the rights that are actually realised,” he said.

Highlighting the unique difficulties faced by hilly states such as Uttarakhand, the Chief Justice pointed out that rugged terrain and poor connectivity impede access to justice. In such regions, he said, it was imperative to make the judicial system more accessible and responsive, with solutions tailored to local conditions.

Drawing on his visits to Ladakh, Srinagar, Nagaland, and Kerala, the Chief Justice observed that citizens often struggle not because they lack rights, but because they do not have accessible platforms to claim them. He stressed that the true test of the Constitution lies not in landmark cases, but in the availability of justice in the everyday lives of ordinary people. The success of institutions, he added, would be measured by how effectively they deliver justice to those most in need.

He identified legal aid schemes, awareness campaigns, and multi-service camps as effective tools for improving access to justice. Recalling his interactions with Army personnel in Ladakh, tribal communities in Srinagar and Nagaland, and fishing communities in Kerala, he underscored the diverse legal needs of different sections of society.

Describing the conference as a crucial platform to deliberate on regional legal challenges, the Chief Justice said that local and context-specific strategies were essential to ensure that vulnerable groups do not become further marginalised. Different regions, he emphasised, face distinct problems that require tailored responses.

Advocating for the wider use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, including mediation, pre-litigation conciliation, and Lok Adalats, he said these processes help resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively while preserving social relationships.

Commending the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority’s “Nyay Mitra” portal, the Chief Justice termed it a significant step towards improving access to justice, particularly in geographically challenging areas of the state.