Ease of justice is as vital as ease of doing business and living: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the government’s reform efforts to make governance and economic activity more efficient must go hand in hand with reforms that make justice simpler, faster, and more inclusive.

PM Modi stressed that “ease of doing business” and “ease of living” would remain incomplete without “ease of justice.”

The Prime Minister was speaking at the National Conference on Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms and the celebration of Legal Services Day, organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in New Delhi.

The event was attended by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, CJI-designate Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

“Justice becomes truly accessible and timely only when it reaches every individual without regard to their social or economic background. That is when the foundation of social justice is truly strengthened,” the Prime Minister said, extending his greetings to members of the judiciary and the Legal Services Authorities," said PM Modi.

PM stated that Legal Services Authorities have become an important bridge between the judiciary and citizens, ensuring that those without resources can approach the system.

“From the national level down to the taluka level, these institutions play a crucial role in ensuring access to justice for all,” he said, adding that the Tele-Law programme has already provided pre-litigation advice to over one crore people across the country.

PM Modi underlined the government’s efforts to simplify legal frameworks and eliminate unnecessary regulatory hurdles.

“More than 40,000 unnecessary compliances have been eliminated. Through the Jan Vishwas Act, over 3,400 legal provisions have been decriminalised, and more than 1,500 outdated laws have been repealed. Old laws that persisted for decades have been replaced by the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” he said.

He said that the use of technology has transformed justice delivery and made the system more humane.

“From e-filing to electronic service of summons, from virtual hearings to video conferencing, technology has simplified everything. The path to securing justice has become easier,” he said, noting that the government has allocated ₹7,000 crore for the third phase of the e-Courts project.

PM also called for greater accessibility of the justice system through language and awareness. “The language of justice should be one that is understood by people seeking it. When people understand the law in their own language, compliance increases and litigation decreases,” Modi said.

He praised the Supreme Court’s initiative to translate over 80,000 judgments into 18 Indian languages, calling it a significant step towards inclusivity.

Chief Justice B.R. Gavai reflected on the moral philosophy underpinning the legal aid movement. “As Mahatma Gandhi said, when in doubt, recall the face of the poorest and weakest person you have seen and ask whether the step you take will help them. This is the talisman that guides us,” he said.

Recalling a visit to a relief camp in Manipur, he said, “A young boy came up and said, ‘Bane raho, bhaiya.’ That moment reminded us that the strength of the legal services movement does not lie in statistics or annual reports but in the quiet gratitude of citizens who were once invisible.”

Justice Surya Kant, who will soon take over as the Chief Justice of India, stated that the Legal Services Authorities Act marked a turning point in the journey towards achieving equal and affordable justice.

“Technology offers real opportunities such as remote legal aid clinics and online conciliations, but it must be guided by local knowledge, linguistic accessibility, and human empathy,” he said.

Justice Surya Kant emphasised that shared ownership among judges, lawyers, law students, paralegal volunteers, and community organisations is vital for a justice system that is truly people-centric.