Supreme Court Justice A.S. Chandurkar emphasizes that free legal aid should meet the same high standards as paid representation. Quality legal assistance is essential for true access to justice, not just a charitable formality.
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PUNE: Justice A.S. Chandurkar of the Supreme Court highlighted the importance of providing high-quality legal aid to economically disadvantaged litigants, emphasizing that free legal assistance must meet the same standards of competence and diligence expected from paid legal representation.
Speaking at the 20th edition of the lecture held in memory of Professor S.P. Sathe at ILS Law College, Pune, Justice Chandurkar highlighted the constitutional significance of legal aid, noting that it is not a matter of charity but an essential aspect of access to justice under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
“Legal aid to the poor does not mean poor legal aid. There should not be any compromise on the quality of legal aid that is provided to those who cannot access the legal system due to economic or other disabilities,”
Justice Chandurkar stated.
Justice Chandurkar cautioned against offering legal aid merely as a procedural formality without ensuring quality and commitment. He emphasized that such an approach would fail to serve any meaningful purpose and stressed the need for dedicated, high-quality legal assistance for marginalized litigants.
He also encouraged senior lawyers to actively participate in providing legal aid.
“If senior professionals take up one or two legal aid matters in a month, they would not only be rendering human social service but also leading by example. Junior members of the bar can be guided by them to put in more effort and render meaningful legal aid,”
he said.
Highlighting the imbalance in the legal system, Justice Chandurkar pointed out that many capable young lawyers struggle to establish their practice due to a lack of opportunities, while numerous litigants cannot afford proper representation. He suggested that this gap could be addressed by better utilizing young and upcoming lawyers and actively involving them in the legal aid system.
Justice Chandurkar also praised law school legal aid clinics as vital instruments for improving access to justice. According to him, these clinics provide students with practical training while offering necessary legal support under expert supervision.
“A legal aid clinic in a law school serves as a window to students for practical training accompanied by necessity, expertise, and supervision,”
he noted.
