Question

What facilities does the government provide to poor for seeking judicial justice

Answer 1

Delivery of legal services to the rich and the corporate class is organised not through individual lawyers but through a series of networked law firms. These firms employ hundreds of lawyers and domain experts all over the country to provide highly specialised single-window services to their clients, of course at prices determined by the market. The middle class, which cannot afford their services, go to individual lawyers or publicly-funded legal aid services organised under the Legal Services Authorities Act. In this scheme of things, it is the poor and marginalised rural and tribal communities who are left out. They suffer injustice or seek justice through informal systems, including the so-called “khap panchayats.” It is this sort of situation prevailing in the countryside that provides a fertile ground for the exploitation of the poor and for the growth of extremist forces, undermining the rule of law and constitutional governance.

Answer 2

The government of India provides many facilities to the poor citizens of the country seeking judicial justice. The following are some of the schemes in support of this statement:

1. Equality before the law: in order to secure justice for every citizen of India Article 14 and 22(1) of the Indian Constitution makes it necessary for the State assure the citizen the equality before the law and a  judicial system which encourages judgment on a principle of equal opportunity to each.

2. Legal Aid scheme:  Justice P.N. Bhagwati introduced the Legal Aid Scheme in the year 1971. This scheme was launched to make an arrangement in the society so that the poor and illiterate can approach the courts.

3. The facility of a defense lawyer: the Constitution of India has made provisions that a defense lawyer will be provided to the poor (who can not afford the fees of the private lawyers) for judicial justice.