CJI Justice Surya Kant Inaugurates NALSA Mega Camp in Meghalaya to Bridge Access to Justice

The programme was organised in partnership with various government departments with the objective of ensuring last-mile delivery of legal aid, welfare benefits and government schemes to the people.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Justice Surya Kant highlighted the multi-dimensional challenges faced by the public and stressed the need for institutions to reach out directly to the people in order to ensure access to justice at the grassroots level.

He said awareness camps are helping bring together healthcare services, educational support, livelihood opportunities and rehabilitation assistance under one platform. He emphasised that government departments, legal organisations and welfare agencies must work collectively to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes.

The Chief Justice also acknowledged the role played by para-legal volunteers and called for strengthening their recruitment to improve outreach and assistance to vulnerable sections of society. He further encouraged greater community participation in ensuring inclusive and compassionate justice for marginalized groups.

Supreme Court Judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan while addressing the gathering said the people of Meghalaya continue to uphold their traditional systems of justice. He stressed the importance of harmonising traditional justice systems with the constitutional framework of modern justice delivery in the country.

Referring to Ri Bhoi’s pineapple cultivation, Justice Bhuyan remarked that the people of Meghalaya are as sweet as the pineapples grown in the district.

Meghalaya Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) has developed a comprehensive State Action Plan aimed at addressing local challenges through effective legal service programmes aligned with national objectives.

He said efforts have been made to ensure that programme activities are suited to local conditions so that benefits reach the targeted sections of society. Rymbui added that access to justice requires collective efforts from the government, judiciary and society as a whole.

Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya and Patron-in-Chief of MSLSA, Justice Revati Mohite Dere, said the mega camp symbolises a commitment to making legal assistance accessible to all and bridging the gap between citizens, the government and the judiciary.

She informed that over the last five years, 14 such mega camps have been organised across nine districts of Meghalaya, benefitting thousands of people. “In our democracy, justice has no distance,” she said.

During the programme, dignitaries distributed assistive devices to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), cheques and work orders to beneficiaries of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Village Organisations (VOs) under various government schemes. Certificates were also awarded to outstanding Legal Aid Panel Lawyers, Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and Legal Aid Defence Counsel lawyers for their performance during 2025.