Judicial process must be accessible by people at the grassroots, says Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice Vibhu Bakhru

Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice Vibhu Bakhru said on Saturday that judicial process must move beyond courtrooms and become accessible to those at the society’s grassroots.

He was speaking after inaugurating a legal awareness and assistance camp on the theme “Empowerment of Rural Communities: Awareness on Rights and Government Schemes” held at Varasiddi Vinayaka College, Keradi in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district on Saturday.

Justice Bakhru, who is the patron in chief of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), said that a KSLSA team visited nearly 1,230 households and interacted with over 3,700 residents in Keradi and Bellala villages recently. People of those villages shared concerns related to Ayushman scheme, Aadhaar, title deeds, and ration cards, he said, adding that the authority is committed to addressing such issues.

Students and youth play a crucial role in ensuring that justice reaches the last individual in society, he said, adding that the legal outreach initiative launched at Keradi should reach every village in the State.

He said that the Constitution has granted fundamental rights and mentioned about duties. People must be aware of these provisions and utilise laws effectively when needed.

The Chief Justice hailed ‘Makkala Panchayat’ model of Keradi and said providing door-to-door legal awareness and assistance is an essential responsibility of KSLSA. “Justice is not a favour; it is the right of every individual,” he said.

Justice Anu Sivaraman, judge of the Karnataka High Court and executive chairperson of KSLSA, who presided over the function, said justice must reach every household. The programme’s purpose would be fulfilled only when people availed the benefits offered, she said.

In his keynote address, KSLSA member-secretary H. Shashidhar Shetty said the authority aims to understand the challenges of rural residents, raise awareness about their rights, and work towards litigation-free villages.

College president Keradi Chandrashekar Shetty spoke. Principal District and Sessions Judge of Udupi district Kiran S. Gangannavar and Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa were present.