Social media an effective form of communication to reach beneficiaries: CJI DY Chandrachud to legal services institutions

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Saturday urged legal services authorities to use social media to reach out to beneficiaries and people in need of legal services..He noted that despite efforts by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to publicise the facilities in place for free legal aid, citizens remain unaware of the same. He proceeded to highlight that the use of social media can help in reaching out to such persons in need. "If they (citizens) have to depend on a lawyer to secure information about the legal services authority, then I ask myself if we have made the system accessible enough? I urge legal services institutions to become more proactive in bringing citizens within the fold of legal aid and services. One way to achieve this goal is to make effective use of social media, to reach out to the target beneficiaries," he said..The CJI also acknowledged that while the judiciary is also known to be a poor communicator, the use of social media may help in effective communication. "The judiciary has been a poor communicator for the simple reason that we feel that we are not here to market ourselves. We are not marketting institutions. But we need to use social media, which is the effective form of communication today", he said. .The CJI further emphasized on the importance of competent and high-quality legal aid to build trust among the people. He called for enhancing the capabilities of lawyers and paralegal volunteers as well.Moreover, he advocated for an increase in representation of women and transgender individuals in the legal profession, while emphasizing on the need for inclusivity in legal services institutions..CJI Chandrachud made these observations while rendering his inaugural address at the 19th All India Legal Services Authorities meet held in Srinagar. A manual for District Legal Services Authorities functioning across the country was also released at the event..The meet was significant from the perspective of the Indian Judiciary and reflected the mainstreaming of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the discourse of development in India, the CJI observed..Other dignitaries present at the event included Supreme Court judges Justices Sanjay Krishan Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Tashi Rabstan of the High Court..Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Lieutenant Governors of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Manoj Sinha and BD Mishra, also graced the occasion and addressed the meet.