Justice Surya Kant made this important statement while speaking at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference held in Malta, on the theme ‘Democrats and Despots – Does Consensus Work?’
Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court of India recently announced that poor convicts who cannot afford a lawyer will soon be allowed to choose a top Senior Advocate to represent them in the Supreme Court, free of cost.
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Justice Surya Kant made this important statement while speaking at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference held in Malta, on the theme ‘Democrats and Despots – Does Consensus Work?’
He said the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) has identified over 4,200 convicts who are in urgent need of legal assistance—either for filing appeals in the Supreme Court or for getting bail.
Justice Surya Kant explained the new plan, saying:
“In the next one month, before I demit the office of the Legal Service Committee, all these persons will be provided free legal aid. And we have decided to circulate a panel of all leading senior advocates of the Supreme Court who are kind enough to render pro bono services, leaving it to the choice of the convict whom he wants to engage. This new experiment we will introduce and implement within one month.”
This means that the convicts will be shown a list of top Senior Advocates, and they will be free to choose who they want to represent them in court. These senior lawyers have agreed to work pro bono (for free) for the cause of justice.
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Justice Surya Kant also spoke about the importance of building consensus between democratic and autocratic (despotic) systems, especially when dealing with global issues.
He said:
“Issues like global health, climate change, counterterrorism, trade agreements and arms control are the areas where both democrats and the despots have a common interest in collaboration. By focusing on these shared challenges, a mutually agreeable framework can be evolved. Furthermore, the global community must play a pivotal role in facilitating this dialogue.”
He added that countries with historical experiences of both democratic and autocratic systems can play an important role in encouraging such cooperation:
“Nations with historical ties to both democratic and despotic systems can be the best bridges in fostering dialogue.”
He further emphasized that global platforms like the Commonwealth can help in promoting peace, dialogue, and understanding:
“Similarly, global institutions like the Commonwealth platforms can help in creating conducive environments for understanding and compromise.”
Justice Surya Kant proudly pointed out that the Indian judiciary has always worked by consensus and has played a major role in shaping the moral and ethical values of Indian society.
He said:
“Indian courts do not just interpret the law as a cold command, but as a living document of justice. The Constitution is not a fossilized parchment but a dynamic expression of the people’s collective aspirations.”
This initiative is being seen as a historic and progressive move to ensure that justice is not denied to anyone due to poverty. It also reflects India’s constitutional values and the belief that every individual deserves a fair chance to be heard in the highest court of the land.
With this new plan, the Supreme Court is making sure that even the poorest of the poor have access to top legal talent, and their voice is not lost just because they cannot pay for a lawyer.
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