Justice Surya Kant Advocates Technology and Empathy in Legal Aid

Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and next in line to be Chief Justice of India, delivered a focused and deeply reflective address on the occasion of Legal Services Day, emphasising that the strength of a justice system is ultimately measured by its impact on ordinary lives.

Speaking at the National Conference on Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms, he underscored that legal services are not a peripheral welfare measure but an essential constitutional mandate that transforms the idea of justice from a formal aspiration into a lived reality.

Justice Surya Kant reminded the gathering that the founding vision of the Constitution was not confined to creating a legal structure but was motivated by a commitment to fairness, dignity and equality. He said that legal aid is the point at which constitutional promises meet social realities.

Calling legal aid a bridge between the State and the “Invisible Victims of the System,” he noted that it allows the marginalised to “assert their rights, obtain remedies, and be heard.” In his view, the vitality of a legal system is not captured by the speed with which complex disputes are adjudicated, but by its ability to reach people who otherwise stand outside the formal justice framework.

He traced the historical movement toward institutionalised legal aid and described the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 as a pivotal moment in India’s justice delivery narrative. The Act, he observed, gave statutory expression to Articles 14 and 39A of the Constitution and ensured that “no citizen is denied legal assistance due to economic or social constraints.” According to him, the Act created a permanent, nationwide ecosystem dedicated to legal awareness, affordable representation and non adversarial dispute resolution.

Justice Surya Kant highlighted the role of NALSA as the national anchor that connects State Authorities, District Authorities, law schools, para legal volunteers and community based workers. He pointed to the tangible impact of this network, noting that “millions have been spared lengthy litigation through conciliatory forums; lakhs have found representation without any cost; a lot many victims have received statutory compensation; thousands have got their disputes resolved through mediation.” These outcomes, he stressed, are more than statistics because each number reflects a life that experienced stability, relief or justice through accessible legal aid.

He also discussed the evolution of legal aid in recent years, especially in the context of emerging social needs and new challenges. He pointed out that prison legal services have shifted from a punishment oriented approach to one centred on rehabilitation.

He referred to support schemes for families of defence personnel, a nationwide movement to institutionalise mediation, and outreach programmes for communities affected by human wildlife conflict. These initiatives, he said, demonstrate the legal system’s increasing awareness of the ways in which law intersects with lived experience.

Justice Surya Kant urged the legal community to focus on making legal aid easier to obtain. While he acknowledged the potential of technology, such as remote legal clinics, digital complaint portals and online conciliations, he cautioned that technology alone cannot solve issues of access. Legal services, he stated, must be complemented by local knowledge, linguistic accessibility and human empathy.

In his words, “technology must be guided by local knowledge, linguistic accessibility, and human empathy,” because meaningful access is created only when digital tools are aligned with ground realities.

He called for shared ownership of the mission to widen legal aid. Judges, lawyers, legal educators, law students, para legal volunteers, community organisations and civil society actors, he said, collectively form “the bridge between digital tools and the needs of citizens.”

Justice Surya Kant framed this collaboration as central to building a justice delivery system that is pragmatic and people centric.

Reaffirming NALSA’s commitment to accessible justice, he said that strengthening legal aid is not only about institutional capacity but also about simplifying the pathways through which a person in distress accesses the law. He emphasised the need for systems that respond with “speed, clarity, and compassion,” and reaffirmed the constitutional imperative to make justice understandable, affordable and reachable.

He expressed gratitude to the dignitaries present and concluded with a reminder that making justice humane is not merely an administrative goal but “the fulfilment of the Constitution’s noblest promise.”

Event Title: Legal Services Day: National Conference on Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms

Speaker: Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman, NALSA

Date: November 8, 2025