Poor can’t get justice until they learn of their rights, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, November 8, 2025, said that if justice is accessible to all, delivered on time and reaches every individual irrespective of their social or financial background, it becomes the foundation of true social justice.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the launch of the national conference on “Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms” held at the Supreme Court of India.

He emphasized on the importance of legal awareness and added that a poor individual cannot access justice until they are aware of their rights, understand the law, and overcome fear of the system’s complexity.

Emphasizing that legal aid plays a vital role in ensuring access to justice, Modi emphasized how legal services officials serve as a bridge between the judiciary and ordinary citizens in every corner of society.

He also expressed satisfaction that thousands of disputes have been resolved quickly, amicably and at low cost through Lok Adalats and pre-litigation settlements.

The Prime Minister said that around eight lakh criminal cases have been solved in just three years under the Legal Aid Defense Advisory System launched by the Government of India. He also claimed that such efforts provide ease of justice for the poor, oppressed, deprived and marginalized across the country.

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Mr. Modi also highlighted that more than 40,000 unnecessary compliances for businesses have been removed, more than 3,400 legal provisions have been decriminalized through the Jan Vishwas Act and more than 1,500 old laws have been repealed.

“The long-standing laws have now been replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” he said.

The Prime Minister also lauded the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which throughout its three decades of service has worked to connect the judiciary to the privileged citizens of the country. He observed that those who turn to legal services authorities often lack resources, representation, and sometimes even hope.

Emphasizing the importance of language in justice, Mr. Modi said that justice should be provided in a language that the recipient can understand. He said this principle should be taken into account when drafting the law. When people understand the law in their own language, it creates better compliance and reduces lawsuits.

He emphasized the need for judgments and legal documents to be available in local languages ​​and lauded the Supreme Court’s initiative to translate over 80,000 judgments into 18 Indian languages. He expressed his full confidence that this effort will continue in the Supreme Courts and district courts.

Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Chief Justice of India BR Gavai also attended the event.

Speaking at the event, Justice Gavai emphasized that legal aid must be proactive.

“We must continue to envision legal aid as a living movement, not a reactive system. We must not wait for adversity to knock on our door… The power of a just society lies in our ability to foresee where injustice may arise and get there before it gets there,” Chief Justice Gavai said.

Justice Surya Kant, President of NALSA and appointed chief justice of India, said legal aid should be made more accessible with a humanitarian approach.

“Obtaining legal aid must be facilitated. This requires both administrative reforms and humanitarian practices. Technology offers real opportunities, such as remote clinics, online conciliations and digital complaints portals, but technology alone will not be enough. It must be guided by local knowledge, linguistic accessibility and human empathy,” Judge Kant said.