ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES: PAVING THE GATEWAY FOR MARGINALIZED INDIANS

Abstract

Access to Justice for all is the main motto of a welfare state. The machineries of a well organized state have been playing a pro-active role in providing accessibility and ensuring accountability. The role of pro-bono legal services in this regard is necessitated to ensure the visionary role played by the founding fathers of our Constitution. The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of the State Policy embodied as trinity of the Constitution is moulded with such a duty driven approach and in such an effective manner that it seeks to achieve equity and ensure protection under the rule of law for all classes of community, more particularly the marginalized section. A responsive attitude is warranted on the part of the stakeholders to translate the noble mission of the Constitution into realty. The role of the civilized society, law schools, non-governmental organisations and all the appropriate forums has a dominant role to play in this regard so that accessing justice no longer remains a myth and something beyond the promises made in the noble and sacrosanct texts could find a prominent place of reflection making deprived and disadvantaged sections to stand on their own thereby exercising  the rights bestowed upon them as persons of Independent India.