Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Apr: Delivering the Justice Keshav Dhulia Memorial Lecture at the Forest Research Institute, on Sunday, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant reminded the legal fraternity that rights must be more than lofty declarations. He stressed that the true measure of justice lies in whether citizens can meaningfully exercise those rights in everyday life.
Beginning his speech, Justice Kant hailed the legacy of Justice Dhulia saying that true legacy lives beyond the courtroom judgments it’s the value one nurtures and integrity that one live by. Kant also highlighted the contribution of Justice Keshav Dhulia particularly as a judge at Allahabad High Court. He also added that the judicial process in the country has undergone technical transformation with the digitisation of records and e-filing.
Speaking on the theme of legal awareness and access to justice, the CJI highlighted that barriers of geography, infrastructure, and economic hardship often prevent vulnerable communities from seeking redress. He urged the judiciary to adopt modern tools, including digitisation, to bridge these gaps and ensure that justice is not delayed or denied. He asserted that making the legal and judicial system more accessible to the people seeking justice, legal awareness campaigns must modern and innovative methods.
Justice Surya Kant also emphasised the importance of economic justice, noting that it should be tangibly experienced by ordinary people rather than remain a theoretical aspiration. He called for sensitive handling of complex legal questions, with courts acting as guardians of fairness and equity.
Speaking on access to justice he said that the constitution does not conceive justice as an abstraction. IT envisions justice as a lived condition that every citizen must experience irrespective of social or economic condition. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma of the Supreme Court was also present. He too shared his views on the subject. The lecture, attended by senior judges and officials, reinforced the judiciary’s role in transforming rights from promises on paper into lived realities for citizens across the country.
Justice (Retd) Sudhanshu Dhulia and son of Justice Keshav Dhulia welcomed the guests while leading film maker Tigmanshu Dhulia proposed the vote of thanks.
Among those present included chairperson of Karmabhoomi Foundation, Sumitra Dhulia and Capt Himanshu Dhulia (Retd) who has played a key role in the activities of Karmabhoomi Foundation and the organisation of Justice Keshav Dhulia memorial lectures which focus on legal and judicial issues.
Wg Cdr Anupama Joshi (Retd) was the MC.
