 Early Times Report
LEH, Mar 30: Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, on 29 March 2026, interacted with the officers and soldiers of Fire and Fury Corps at the Raina Auditorium, Leh, highlighting the vital synergy between the judiciary and the Armed Forces.
The programme was attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena; Hon'ble Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh; Hon'ble Justice Sanjeev Kumar; Justice Sindhu Sharma; and Justice Shahzad Azeem; Chief Secretary Ladakh, Ashish Kundra; DGP Ladakh Mukesh Singh and Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, among others.
Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, UYSM, SC**, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, in his welcome address, termed it a privilege to host the guardians of the nation's judicial system. He reaffirmed the steadfast commitment of the Armed Forces towards safeguarding national integrity, while also extending support to the Indian judiciary.
In his address, Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, observed that the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces are beyond comparison and deserve the highest degree of respect, sensitivity, and prompt responsiveness. He also highlighted that after the launch of NALSA's Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana at the North Zone Conference held at SKICC, Srinagar, in July last year, a new direction and momentum were given to efforts to make the legal system more accessible. He noted that since the conference, 205 AFT matters have been disposed of in the High Court alone and also shared how the appointment of Veer Naris has strengthened the legal aid movement in India.
The Chief Justice of India, in his address, paid tribute to the supreme sacrifices of soldiers, recalling the historic legacy of Rezang La. Emphasising that justice must reach the soldier, His Lordship reiterated that access to justice under Article 39A of the Constitution of India is a fundamental right. He highlighted key legal aid initiatives, including Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana and Nyaya Aapke Dwaar, aimed at ensuring legal support to Armed Forces personnel and their families, particularly in remote and far-flung areas.
His Lordship further stressed the importance of a trained paralegal workforce and encouraged the inclusion of paralegal volunteers within Army units. He also observed that ex-servicemen willing to contribute are welcome to join as paralegal volunteers. The CJI additionally noted India's advancements in leveraging technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence for translation across multiple languages, thereby enhancing access to justice.
During the interactive session, Army personnel were provided an opportunity to raise their queries directly. The discussion primarily focused on ensuring access to justice for soldiers stationed in remote border areas, as well as on professional growth in the legal field. The CJI, in response, mentioned that various schemes and initiatives such as Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana and Nyaya Aapke Dwaar are aimed at helping and providing legal assistance to all Army personnel, ex-servicemen, and their families. He also stated that cases can be filed in courts online from anywhere. The Indian judiciary is number one in the usage of technology to deliver justice to all across the world. |
