NALSA (National Legal Service Authority) celebrated the ‘International Human Rights Day’ on 10th December, at The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The theme for the event this year is ‘Every Right, Every Life’. India was commemorating the 77th anniversary of the adoption of UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) of the United Nations.
Newly appointed Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna addressed the gathering with a speech on the significance of human rights. The event organized by NALSA, was also graced by Justice BR Gavai (Executive Chairman of NALSA), Justice Surya Kant (Chairman of Supreme Court Legal Service Committee), and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (Minister of State for Law and Justice) and, other esteemed Supreme Court Judges, as chief guests.
Strengthening Human Rights to strengthen the nation
The Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna made a clarion call to the legal officers and the judiciary separately, during the celebrations of International Human Rights Day, to create a compassionate justice system that is endowed with integral values of humanity and kindness. He said in his speech that ‘human rights’ serve as the bedrock of human society. They are inalienable in the process of justice and must be deeply ingrained in our hearts for ensuring world peace.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna while addressing the gathering, further emphasized upon the dire need for the system of justice in India today to bring criminologically transformative reforms to the laws existing and prevalent today, and he also expressed the significant need for reforming the prison system in India through immediate action. He stated in his speech that the Indian jails are overcrowded around 119% beyond its actual capacity, since, at present it holds 5,19,000 prisoners against its capacity of 4,36,000.
To get rid of the ‘Black coat syndrome’
The Chief Justice, while quoting the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu referred to the ubiquitous ‘Black coat syndrome’. He described the syndrome as ‘fear and alienation’ that the marginalized sections of the society are subjected to, in the pursuit of interacting with the legal system.
National Legal Service Authority, on 10th December, launched a three-month long campaign named ‘Special Campaign for Old Prisoners and Terminally Ill Prisoners’. The main objective of this campaign will be to focus on and accelerate the release of old and terminally ill prisoners, providing them with assistance in effective legal aid services while keeping in mind the vulnerability and lack of connection such prisoners are faced with, once accused. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India also reiterated on the pressing need for ensuring the societal and familial re-establishment of such prisoners after one’s release to ensure their reformation.
