At the inaugural function of the 7th All India Meet of State Legal Services Authorities in Nagpur, India has become a robust democracy due to the trust shown by our founding fathers in the Constitution and common man of India quoted by Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

According to the minister, Social media can be used as a medium to create awareness among people. Question of under-trial prisoners was also raised by him and he also suggested few reforms for deliberation such as women prisoner who has served 25 per cent of her sentence as under-trial prisoner should be released.

He emphasised the government’s achievements in repealing old laws while highlighting the issue of pending criminal cases. He expressed the wish that India Should become an arbitration hub in the near future and new law has been passed in this regard. He said law universities should stress on mediation and arbitration training.

Legal aid is not very commonly approached by the population as told by Justice S.A. Bobade although about 80 percent are entitled to it.  Due to the active support of High Courts, State Legal Services Authorities are gathering momentum.

There is a three-fold increase in the last two years in the percentage of people coming forward for legal aid. The situation is changing but we need to do a lot, he added.

The function was also attended by Supreme Court Judge Justice N.V Ramana, Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Surya Kant.

The objective of the two-day conclave is to make access to justice more effective and provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society who are deprived of justice due to economic and other factors.