Justice Surya

Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India, inaugurated the programme

In-depth

discussion held on women’s judicial protection and reproductive autonomy

Launch of

‘Nyay Marg’ AI Chatbot — making legal aid digitally accessible

“Every woman

must have the confidence that the justice system stands firmly with her” –

Justice Surya Kant

“The progress

of any community is measured by the progress of its women” – Justice Vikram

Nath

“Nyay Marg

chatbot is a crucial step towards strengthening access to justice” – Chief

Justice Arun Bhansali

Justice Manoj

Kumar Gupta emphasized enhancing the effectiveness of legal aid through digital

means

“Justice lies

not only in judgments but also in the compassion with which we treat those in

distress” – Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi

Experts from

NIMHANS, NHM, AALI, and Vatsalya shared insights during the technical session

Detailed

discussions were held on unwanted motherhood, psychological support, and legal

assistance

Focus laid on

rehabilitation of rape survivors, judicial cooperation, and social sensitivity

Inauguration

of newly constructed auditorium ‘Spandan’ at Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services

Authority

Lucknow, 02

Nov (HS): The Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (UPSLSA) today

organized a Sensitization Programme on “Removing Barriers to Reproductive

Autonomy through Legal Aid” at the Judicial Training & Research Institute

(JTRI), Lucknow. The programme was held in the august presence of eminent

dignitaries of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Judicature at

Allahabad.

The programme

was inaugurated by Justice Surya Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India &

Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Justice Vikram

Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Chairman, Supreme Court Legal

Services Committee, graced the programme with his benign presence.

The ceremony

was held in the august presence of Justice Arun Bhansali, Chief Justice, High

Court of Judicature at Allahabad & Patron-in-Chief, UPSLSA; Justice Manoj

Kumar Gupta, Senior Judge & Executive Chairman, UPSLSA; Justice Mahesh

Chandra Tripathi, Chairman, HCLSC, Allahabad; and Justice Rajan Roy, Chairman,

HCLSSC, Lucknow Bench. Justice D.K. Upadhyay, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court

also grace the occasion with his benign presence.

Justice Surya

Kant, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, National Legal

Services Authority (NALSA) stated that the women regardless of the circumstance

deserves the quite assurance that the justice delivery system will firmly

stands besides her. He appreciated the achievements of UPSLSA under the

leadership of Patron-in-Chief & Executive Chairman of UPSLSA and

congratulated for the launch of AI Chatbot “Nyay Marg” and stated that the

Sensitization Programme and technological inculcation would bridge the gap

between the beneficiary & entitlement. He reminded the constitutional duty

enshrined in Article 39A of the Constitution of India for rendering Legal Aid

to the people of India.

Justice

Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Chairman, Supreme Court Legal

Services Committee welcomes all the participants. His Lordship quoted the word

said by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar “I measure the progress of a community by the degree

of progress which women has achieved” encapsulated a profound truth about the

societal advancement and stated the state of women in our country and

appreciate the efforts for organizing

Progrmme “ladYi” Sensitization

Programme on removing Barriers to Reproductive Autonomy through Legal Aid.

Justice Arun

Bhansali, Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court/ Patron-in- Chief, UPSLSA told

about the significance of the Sensitization Programme & Nyay Marg Chat Bot

of UPSLSA and marks this event as significant towards the commitment of Justice

for Legal Aid.

Justice Manoj

Kumar Gupta welcomed all the dignitaries and participants. He set up the tone

for Sensitization Programme on Removing Barriers to Reproductive Autonomy

through Legal Aid. His Lordship also quoted the achievement of UPSLSA and emphasized

on making legal aid more accessible to the needy and marginalized section by

expanding digital outreach, enhancing legal aid activities & promoting them

for poor and needy people.

Justice

Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, Chairman, HCLSC, Allahabad addressed the concern for

rape survivors, particularly minor girls, who face not only the trauma of

sexual violence but also the overwhelming burden of unintended pregnancies,

social stigma, emotional distress, and procedural complexities. He said that

the Justice is not delivered only in judgments, it is delivered in how we treat

those who come to us in vulnerability. Justice Rajan Roy, Sr. Judge, Allahabad

High Court, Lucknow Bench also expressed his view and delivered the formal Vote

of thanks of Inaugural Session

The Technical

Session was chaired by Justice Ajay Bhanot, Judge, Allahabad High Court &

Chairman, High Court Juvenile Justice Committee. Eminent experts from the

fields of psychiatry (NIMHANS), law enforcement, public health (NHM), women’s

rights advocacy (AALI), and maternal healthcare (Vatsalya) deliberated on

Psychological support in cases of compelled motherhood, Coordination challenges

among police, doctors and courts, Role of legal aid in reproductive choices and

support systems, Medical and legal implications of the MTP Act.

During the

programme, experts from the fields of law, health, psychiatry, policing and

women’s rights addressed critical issues relating to reproductive autonomy,

access to safe medical termination of pregnancy, psychosocial support

mechanisms for victims, and coordinated institutional response. The interactive

discussions focused on strengthening legal aid support for survivors, ensuring

timely medical care, and removing procedural and social hurdles faced by women

and children in distress.

On the same

occasion, the newly constructed Auditorium “Spandan”, at Office Building of

UPSLSA, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, was inaugurated by Justice Surya Kant

in the presence of the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court. The

state-of-the-art auditorium is designed to host training programmes,

conferences and public legal awareness initiatives aimed at improving access to

justice. Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Dr. Manu Kalia, Member Secretary,

UPSLSA, expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, officers, legal aid

functionaries and participants for supporting the mission of inclusive and

compassionate legal services across Uttar Pradesh.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi