Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Saturday, August 8, 2026, that dialogue, dignity, and inclusion are essential pillars for ensuring effective public access to justice. Speaking at an event, he made a point of noting that the goal of legal aid isn't simply to dispose of cases efficiently — it's equally about making sure people are treated with genuine respect throughout the process.
Access to Justice Starts With Listening
Addressing the Western Zone Regional Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in Indore, the CJI emphasised that access to justice fundamentally begins with dialogue. His core message was that solutions to legal problems shouldn't be one-size-fits-all — they need to be tailored to the specific challenges people are actually facing, which requires genuinely listening to those challenges first, rather than applying generic remedies.
A Broader Vision for Legal Aid
The Chief Justice's remarks reflect a broader philosophy about what legal aid is meant to achieve. While case disposal rates and efficiency metrics matter, his comments suggest a deeper concern: that the justice system's real success lies in how people experience it — whether they feel heard, respected, and genuinely included in a process that's supposed to serve them. This framing positions dignity not as a secondary consideration, but as a core measure of whether the justice system is actually working for the people it's meant to serve.
FAQs
Q1. What did CJI Surya Kant say about access to justice?
CJI Surya Kant said that dialogue, dignity, and inclusion are essential for effective access to justice, and that legal aid should focus not just on case disposal but also on ensuring respectful treatment of people.
Q2. Where did the CJI make these remarks?
He made these remarks while addressing the Western Zone Regional Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in Indore.
Q3. What is NALSA's role in India's legal system?
NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) is responsible for providing free legal aid and ensuring access to justice for marginalised and underprivileged sections of society across India.