"Rehabilitation for Incarcerated women a tougher challenge as they face graver stigma, prejudices": CJI NV Ramana

“Often incarcerated women have to face, graver prejudices, stigma and discrimination, which makes their rehabilitation a tough challenge," Chief Justice of India, Justice N.V. Ramana stated at the 32nd Central Authority Meeting of NALSA.

[Justice Ramana is the Patron-in-Chief, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The said Central Authority meeting was co-chaired by Hon’ble Justice U.U. Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA.]

The main agenda items of the meeting included:

• Consideration of report of the committee to look into the optimum use of technology and Artificial Intelligence;
• Consideration of the Committee report on rehabilitation of women prisoners; implementation and way forward for NALSA’s vision and mission statement 2021-22;
• Reconstitution of the Committee to look into the issue of revising the recommended fee structure of panel lawyers and consideration of the implementation report of Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS), which is a unique system based on public defender system of United States.

On the issue of rehabilitation for women prisoners J. Ramana observed that

“Often incarcerated women have to face, graver prejudices, stigma and discrimination, which makes their rehabilitation a tough challenge.” He added that, “as a welfare state, we are obligated to provide women prisoners with programs and services that enable them to effectively reintegrate into the society, on an equal basis with men."

He further provided certain measures for reintegration of the women prisoners into the society such as, ‘non-discriminatory access to education and vocational training, dignified and remunerated work’.

Justice Ramana pointed out the importance of being analytical and critical in our thinking in ensuring access to justice. He observed that although much has been spoken about increasing access to justice, the question remains as to how to ensure effective and substantive access to justice to all classes of people and how to meet these gaps.

However, the Chief Justice also appreciated the work of the Legal Services Authorities during the recently organised Lok Adalat on 11th September.

He congratulated the legal services authorities for disposing more than 29.5 lakh cases across 33 States & UTs of the country.