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“Unlike other professions, the legal profession is not about profit maximization, but about service to the society,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana has said while speaking at Legal Services Day organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).

Talking about how access to legal services have developed, the CJI Ramana lauded the work of legal services that have broken the traditional notions of legal aid and have given an expanded meaning to access to justice. “Today, the role of legal services authorities is not constrained merely to the provision of court based legal representation."

"They also work towards legal awareness, legal literacy, social action litigation, settlement of disputes through Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms, among others,” CJI Ramana said, and stating thus, he inaugurated the new premises of Mediation Center of the Supreme Court.

Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s words, CJI Ramana said, “Do not look back, look forward! Infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring and infinite patience, then alone can great deeds be achieved.”

Addressing the law students in the audience, CJI Ramana recognised the role played by law students in outreach of legal aid and said:

“Your decision to join the legal aid movement will pave the path for a great career. This will help you inculcate empathy, understanding and a sense of selflessness. Remember, unlike other professions, the legal profession is not about profit maximization, but about service to the society.”

Launching the new iOS version of NALSA app with option of different vernacular languages besides Hindi and English, CJI Ramana said it’s a commendable achievement in removing the language barrier, leading the path towards accessibility.

He also commended the short film festival initiative taken to further legal awareness and said that this competition would open a window for these students to bridge the existing inequities within our society.

“I firmly believe that this competition would prepare future torch bearers of the legal aid movement,” he said.

CJI Ramana further pointed out Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s personal inclination towards the progress of legal services authorities which would remove the existing roadblocks in the growth of legal services authorities including the infrastructural issues.

In his concluding remarks, CJI Ramana quoted Martin Luther King and said:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable, every step towards the goal of Justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle, the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."