Court fees and high lawyer's fees are impinging on the decision to opt for a legal remedy, she said in her inaugural address at the two-day conference of women lawyers in Kochi.
Stressing on the need to make legal services affordable to all, president Pratibha Patil today asked lawyers to ensure that high costs do not act as a barrier to seek justice.
"Affordability of legal services is an issue on which there should be constant focus in legal circles, so that the right for judicial opportunity is not compromised due to high costs," Patil said.
Court fees and high lawyer's fees are impinging on the decision to opt for a legal remedy, she said in her inaugural address at the two-day National Conference of All India Federation of Women Lawyers here.
Article 39A of the Constitution calls for free legal aid to those who cannot access justice due to economic or other disabilities.
Access to quick, inclusive and quality justice is the key to achieve this objective. Government has taken several steps to make free legal service available for the poor, disadvantaged and others. Women lawyers should devote some time to contribute to these efforts to secure legal services for women and those who are vulnerable, she said.
Legal reforms should address procedural aspects, so that justice delivery mechanisms can be easily understood by the public, Patil said.
The system can be made more transparent, effective and people-oriented. Innovative mechanisms are required to reduce delays in legal proceedings, including revising legal codes and old and outdated laws, besides strengthening institutional aspects of the judiciary, she said.
Patil said judicial officers and law enforcement agencies should be given necessary training in order to sensitise them while dealing with cases of violence, harassment or discrimination against women.
While relevance of laws in bringing about social change is important, enacting legislations alone was not enough, she said, adding, there was a need to raise the levels of 'legal literacy' in the country.
NGOs and legal societies should undertake awareness campaigns to make people, including women, aware of their legal rights and obligations under law, she added.
Legal systems have to cope with the impact of 21st century changes, particularly information technology which can be used for delivering justice in a quicker and transparent manner.
Pointing at the misuse of technology, she said there was rise in cyber crimes where the 'hackers and attackers' were collecting critical and sensitive information to harass people.
Social evils like child marriage, female foeticide and infanticide and dowry need to be addressed, she said, and asked women and the youth to take up the challenge to eliminate social evils and work towards changing social attitudes and mindset.
Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan said gender justice should be made part of school and college curriculum. There is a need to create awareness through mass media, he said.
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