In a recent address at the International Lawyers’ Conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the pivotal role of the judiciary in the development of a nation. He stated,
“Indian judiciary has always upheld the rule of law…India now needs a strong and independent judiciary. I hope that during this conference all nations will be inspired by the best practices of each other.”
The conference, hosted by the Bar Council of India, was also graced by the presence of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Highlighting the importance of language in the legal process, PM Modi remarked,
“We in the Indian government are thinking that law should be produced in two ways. One draft will be in the language you are used to. The second draft will be in a language which the country’s common man can understand. He should consider the law his own.”
He further acknowledged that there had been a historical tendency to draft laws in a complex manner.
The Prime Minister also lauded the Supreme Court’s initiative of making its judgments available in regional languages, stating,
“I had congratulated CJI DY Chandrachud that judgments were made available in regional languages now. I congratulate the Supreme Court now for translating its orders in regional languages. This will help the common man a lot. If a doctor speaks to a patient in their own language then half the ailment is taken care of. This took 75 years to be done… imagine.”
Furthermore, PM Modi expressed his commitment to presenting laws in two distinct formats: one in legal language and the other in layperson language. He opined,
“The language in which laws are written plays a big role in justice delivery.”
In line with this, he mentioned that the government is actively working on simplifying the data protection law.
During his speech, PM Modi also praised the legal fraternity for their enduring role as guardians of India’s justice system. He recalled the significant contributions of legal luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in shaping the nation. He also touched upon recent milestones, including the passage of the women’s reservation bill in Parliament, the G20 Summit, and the successful Chandrayaan mission.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of impartial justice in bolstering global confidence in India, especially as the nation strives to achieve the status of a developed country by 2047.