Webinar on ‘Access to Justice and Free Legal Aid’
Aligarh: Experts discussed the importance of legal aid as a provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system in the national webinar on ‘Access to Justice and Free Legal Aid’ of the Legal Aid Clinic, Malappuram Centre, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Deliberating on the topic, the Chief Guest, Prof M Shakeel Ahmed Samdani, Dean, Faculty of Law said, “For a democracy to function equal access to justice is sine qua non and the delivery of equal justice the provision of legal aid is necessary and prime.”
He added: “The system of justice at times becomes costly, complex and cumbersome for the lower economic strata, but the remedy lies in access to free legal aid and guidance.”
He also spoke on how the preamble of our constitution aims at securing social, economic and political justice to all citizens and how legal aid to the deprived section will ensure the equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.
The Chief Speaker, Prof Manoj Kumar Sinha, Director, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi stressed on the need of competent lawyers for delivering justice.
Dr Faisal K P (Director, Malappuram Centre) emphasised that free legal aid creates a sense of confidence in the weaker sections.
Ghalib Nashter (Coordinator, Department of Law, Malappuram Centre) and Dr Naseema P K (Chairperson, Legal Aid Clinic) pointed out that legal aid is a step towards the fulfilment our constitutional obligation to cater the special needs and to provide the protection to the downtrodden.
Shahnawas Ahmed delivered the welcome speech. Afeefa Amathurahman extended the vote of thanks, while Fasna Backer conducted the programme.