Harmonious functioning of legislature, executive, judiciary essential to remove barriers to justice: CJI NV Ramana

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday spoke of the need to ensure a harmonious functioning of the three organs of the government to remove the procedural barriers to justice..Speaking at an event to mark the inauguration of a new buidling for the Orissa State Legal Services Authority, CJI Ramana said,."The Executive and the Legislature should function in unison in realising the Constitutional aspirations. It is only then, that the Judiciary would not be compelled to step in as a law-maker and would only be left with the duty of applying and interpreting the same. At the end of the day, it is the harmonious functioning of the three organs of the State that can remove the procedural barriers to justice.".The CJI noted that the general citizenry had a belief that it was the Court’s responsibility to make laws and added that such misconceptions should be dispelled.. “This is where the role of other organs of the State - the Legislature and the Executive assumes great significance", he said..He further noted that: “The Legislature needs to revisit the laws and reform them to suit the needs of time and people. I emphasize, our laws must match with our practical realities. The executive has to match these efforts by way of simplifying the corresponding rules.”.During his address, the CJI also spoke to the greater importance of legal service institutions in States such as Odisha, where the challenge of accessing justice was magnified as a result of regional and economic disparity.. He further reiterated his view that the legal system has to become more Indianised and accessible to the common public.“Between the complex language of the Acts and the process of justice delivery, the common man seems to lose control over the fate of his grievance. Often in this trajectory, the justice-seeker feels like an outsider to the system", he commented..It was observed that legal services authorities play an important role to empower vulnerable classes by providing them legal aid and reaching persons residing in remote and far flung areas. .However, he also acknowledged concerns regarding lack of proper funding and infrastructure, as a result of which the legal services authorities cannot do as much work and the beneficiaries of these service reduce..In this backdrop, he announced that a country-wide legal awareness mission will be launched in the next week in order to address the need for strengthening these outreach programs..“Considering the gravity of the challenge, we have decided to launch a country-wide robust legal awareness mission in the upcoming week. I expect your cooperation and support to take this effort into the remotest corner", he said..[Read entire account here].[Watch Event Here].Our legal system is colonial, not suited for Indian population: CJI NV Ramana