Tribune news Service
Shimla, June 5

Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, has emphasised the need for expeditious redressal of grievances of the weaker sections of society with a view to making their fundamental rights and legal rights meaningful. He said it was the need of the hour that all laws relating to the upliftment and protection of the rights of the poor segments of society were duly implemented and the authorities responsible for implementing the same were made accountable.

He was addressing students of American law colleges at a colloquium on justice for the poor organised by Touro Law School and South Texas Law School at Hotel Holiday Home, Shimla, last evening. The American students are on a visit to the state to study Indian law as part of their summer law programme.

Dr Bhan said complete data of the steps taken, schemes prepared and the number of beneficiaries was required to be gathered and published periodically to bring it under the gaze of public. He said the number of students enrolled in various professional courses under the reservations provided to them and the details of the persons appointed under the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward classes categories was also required to be published. He also stressed the need for providing promotional avenues for these categories at every level as enshrined under Article-16 (4) (A) of the Constitution.

The Governor said the cases where one of the parties belonged to either the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes should be decided expeditiously.

He said the members of the litigating Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes should be assisted by providing competent lawyers for them to protect their fundamental rights by the state.

The other expenditure incurred like court fees, etc. should also be borne by the state by creating a special fund.

Dr Bhan said the Indian Constitution promised not only political but also social democracy. He said the goal envisaged by the Constitution was the establishment of a socialist state.

Dr Bhan, while underlining the good work done by lok adalats, said the holding of lok adalats was one of the major programmes of the Legal Services Authority.

The scheme was aimed at resolving legal disputes between the parties through negotiations, he said.

Dr Bhan also answered questions raised by the American students.

Prof Eilen Kaufman, Director, Summer Law Programme, gave an introduction of the programme.

She said the study of the legal system of another country enabled one to understand his system better. She said this was the seventh Summer Law Programme in India and it had 22 students drawn from 13 law schools of the USA.

She also presented a memento to the Governor.