Archive · 9 Nov 2025
CJI Gavai: Legal Aid is Moral Duty, Not Charity
Imagine a day where a top judge says that helping people who can't afford a lawyer is super important, like a promise our country must keep.
This judge, CJI Gavai, said it's not just being nice, it's a 'moral duty'.
He also said that the people working to help others with legal stuff need to be like good planners, not just for a short time.
To make sure good ideas keep going, he suggested that the people in charge of legal aid in big groups like NALSA should talk with future leaders.
This way, even when new people take over, the important work for justice continues.
He also reminded everyone that helping people with legal problems needs kindness and understanding, not just following rules.
It’s about making sure everyone, no matter what, can get the help they need and feel heard.
CJI BR Gavai stated that legal aid is a moral duty, not merely an act of charity.
He emphasized the need for administrative imagination and a long-term institutional vision in legal aid delivery.
CJI Gavai proposed creating advisory committees at NALSA and SLSAs with current and future executive chairpersons for policy continuity.
He highlighted that the work of legal aid requires empathy and collaboration, differing from the traditional judicial role of dispassionate judgment.
The CJI stressed the importance of deepening collaboration between the judiciary, executive, and civil society, while harnessing technology with a human touch.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India BR Gavai
- What
- Stated that legal aid is a moral duty, not charity, and proposed structural changes to NALSA and SLSAs for policy continuity.
- When
- November 9
- Where
- New Delhi
- Why
- To emphasize the importance of comprehensive legal aid and to ensure sustained, long-term vision in its delivery.
Traditional Judicial Role
Legal Aid Service Role
Approach to Work
Traditional Judicial Role
Judicial officers are trained to maintain distance, weigh evidence dispassionately, and apply reasoned judgment.
Legal Aid Service Role
The work of legal aid requires empathy, collaboration, and seeing beyond procedure into the conditions that produce injustice.
Primary Function
Traditional Judicial Role
To adjudicate and ensure reasoned judgment.
Legal Aid Service Role
To connect, coordinate with government departments, build partnerships with civil society, and reach out to citizens with compassion and clarity.
- Speaker
- Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai
- Event
- Valedictory function of the national conference on ‘Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery Mechanisms’ and celebration of ‘Legal Services Day’
- Date of Statement
- Sunday, November 9
- Organization
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- NALSA Anniversary
- 30th year
- CJI Gavai's Tenure End
- November 23
