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Resources
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This section of Strengthened Access to Justice- I (SAJI- I) provides an access to various resources on police reforms, prison reforms, right to information, women’s rights, children’s rights, human rights, and other important developments in the justice system. This is not only to ensure people’s legal empowerment to claim their right to address grievances, but it also enables various organizations and individuals to have an easy access to these resources through a single website in a comprehensive manner. Access to such resources will help them better serve the interests of marginalized, vulnerable groups and communities. |
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Criminal Justice System (Reforms)
( 7 items )
The criminal justice system (CJS) is one of the major public services in a country. Across the CJS, agencies such as police, the courts, the prisons, prosecution services etc. work together to deliver the criminal justice process. These agencies work together to reform and improve the criminal justice system in order to - Prevent and detect crime
- Give support to victims and witnesses
- Punish and rehabilitate offenders
The criminal justice system in India has confronted serious criticism in the recent times. It has been observed that the system has failed to protect the human rights of the poor, dalits, minorities and other vulnerable sections of society. The most vulnerable endure enormous challenges in seeking redress from the criminal justice system. The failure to provide equal protection of the law to and safeguard the rights of the minorities has been a major human rights issue plaguing the entire criminal justice system. Judicial reluctance and administrative indifference on the one hand and growing rate of crime on the other has led to a situation where the poor find themselves brutalized and isolated.
In such a state of affairs, reform initiatives have been taken from time to time to strengthen access to justice and the criminal justice system. Police reforms and prison reforms are such two major components as far as the reform in the criminal justice system is concerned. This component of the website provides important documents related to all the major initiatives towards reform including organizational structure and relevant legislation.
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Right to Information
( 7 items )
Right to Information is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution. Article 19 (1) says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court Of India has held in several cases that RTI is implicit in the constitutionally enshrined rights. It empowers citizens to secure access of information from public authorities in order to ensure transparency and accountability in Government administration. Access to information ensures a participatory democracy, tackles the malaise of corruption, strengthens people’s trust in the government, supports equitable, just and people – centric development. Freedom of information lies at the root of the rights discourse. Failure of the State to provide access to information to the realization of rights as well as effective democracy , which requires informed participation by all.
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Women
( 4 items )
It is a paradox of modern India that a section of women are placed in powerful positions at the topmost level, yet large sections of women are among the most underprivileged. The status of women in the contemporary context is reflected in the state of their health, education, employment and life in society. The Indian women’s movement started with addressing the problems that women faced, like violence, property rights, legal status, political participation, minority rights, reproductive rights etc. Today, they have won several victories against an oppressive way of life and are poised to raise pertinent questions that will make their lives more emancipating. The Government has also amended several laws relating to women. The setting up of the National Commission for Women in 1992 was a significant development. The purpose was to
- review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women;
- recommend remedial legislative measures;
- facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
This section is designed to facilitate the user to cull out the women related issues and the mechanisms to tackle them.
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Children
( 6 items )
Indians constitute 16 per cent of the world's population, occupying 2.42 percent of its land area. India has more working children than any other nation, as also among the lowest female-male ratios. Despite Constitutional guarantees of civil rights, children face discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, ethnicity and religion. Even the basic need for birth registration that will assure them a nationality and identity remains unaddressed, affecting children's rights to basic services. India is also home to one of the largest illiterate citizenries in the world. Little children, barely able to stand, are married off flouting all laws. Little ones are sacrificed, trafficked and sold; as others are locked, abused, sodomised - the list is endless. And there are all those realities that never make the news. Therefore, any understanding of human rights of children cannot be confined to some children - 'poor children', 'working children' and 'marginalised children'. Such categories only help us to remove ourselves from the problem. Violations of children's rights are not limited to the poor and downtrodden. They happen in middle class and elite homes too, albeit in different forms, and the silence around these is even deeper. Also, any analysis on the situation of children must be understood within the context of the economic and political changes in the country. Of particular importance are globalisation and liberalisation, and the gender, caste and religious attitudes that prevail today. All these add to children's vulnerability and affect any action that may be taken for them.
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Resources 