Institute of Legal and Management Studies

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who serves as the Patron-in-Chief of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), on Sunday urged judicial officers deputed to Legal Services Institutions to approach their roles with compassion, humility and community engagement rather than judicial detachment.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the National Conference on “Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms” organised by NALSA at the Supreme Court , the Chief Justice delivered a heartfelt message to judicial officers as he prepares to demit office in two weeks.

“Before I demit my office in two weeks, I would like to leave a message for all the judicial officers who come on deputation to the Legal Services Authorities. Judicial training often teaches us to maintain a certain distance, to weigh evidence dispassionately, and to apply reasoned judgment. But the work of legal aid demands the opposite sensibility : It requires empathy, collaboration, and the ability to see beyond procedure into the conditions that produce injustice,” CJI Gavai said.

He emphasised that officers serving in legal services institutions must not see themselves as adjudicators but as facilitators who bridge the gap between citizens and justice.

"In this role, we do not speak from the Bench. We speak as part of the community. We must learn to listen before we act, to facilitate rather than to direct, and to see ourselves not as authority figures but as partners in the shared mission of delivering justice to those who have long been excluded from its reach. When a judicial officer embraces this spirit of humility, collaboration, and service, the Legal Services movement truly reflects the humane face of the judiciary.ourselves not as authority figures but as partners in the shared mission of delivering justice to those who have long been excluded from its reach,” he said.

The event, attended by Justice Surya Kant (CJI-designate and Executive Chairman, NALSA) and Justice Vikram Nath (Chairperson, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee), marked the conclusion of a two-day deliberation on improving access to justice. CJI Gavai also launched the Legal Aid Defence System (LADS) Dashboard to enhance efficiency and transparency in the management of legal aid across the country.

CJI stresses importance of timely remuneration for legal aid counsels

The Chief Justice of India BR Gavai also expressed concern over delays in payments to panel lawyers and paralegal volunteers working under Legal Services Authorities, warning that such lapses, have a “deeply demoralising effect” on those serving the most vulnerable sections of society.

“These individuals are not performing their duties as an act of charity, but as a professional and moral commitment to justice. Just as officers and staff in regular service receive their salaries on time, so too should our volunteers and legal aid counsel be treated with the same dignity and respect,” he said.

Recalling his earlier tenure as Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, CJI Gavai mentioned that payments to panel lawyers had once remained pending for years. “When I was chairing the Committee, the payments were not made for years together, and therefore we had to prepare a system where payments were routinely and regularly credited directly to the account of the counsels,” he said.

He noted that ensuring consistency in payments not only boosts morale but also upholds the credibility of the legal aid system. “Timely remuneration is a reflection of the value we place on their contribution,” he remarked, urging all Legal Services Authorities to treat this as a matter of fairness, not just administrative efficiency.

CJI Gavai further emphasised that the sustainability and success of the legal aid movement depend on these dedicated individuals, and called for mechanisms that guarantee both timely compensation and continuous training. He recommended a structured framework for capacity building, digital literacy, awareness of victims' rights, and effective communication skills for paralegal volunteers, panel lawyers and defence counsel.

Recognising the emotional strain faced by many volunteers and legal aid lawyers working in prisons, marginalised communities, and with victims of violence, the Chief Justice also advocated for institutional mechanisms for psychological support, counselling, and peer networks. “Empathy and emotional resilience must be cultivated as consciously as legal expertise,” he said.

CJI Gavai launched the LADM&C (Legal Aid Data Management & Coordination) platform, expressing confidence that it would help streamline administration, transparency and accountability in the legal aid network. He suggested that a centralised NALSA database tracking volunteer details, payment status and performance metrics would ensure uniformity and timely remuneration across the country.

'Legal Services Movement Has Evolved To Meet New Challenges'

Reflecting on the growth of legal aid institutions over the past three decades, the CJI said that the legal services movement had “continuously evolved and adapted to new challenges.”

The Chief Justice noted that the progress of legal institutions should be measured not by intentions but by their real impact on people's lives.

He called for a structured system of periodic assessment within the legal services network, suggesting that NALSA and its state units collaborate with academic and research institutions to conduct social audits of their schemes.

In his closing remarks, the Chief Justice said that compassion and commitment are the twin pillars of a just system. “Every citizen who still feels unheard or unrepresented reminds us of the distance we must still travel,” he said, urging the judiciary, government, and civil society to deepen their collaboration in expanding access to justice.