Supreme Court Judges to Visit Arunachal Pradesh for Legal Outreach on March 29-30
Strengthening Legal Awareness in Tribal Areas
Supreme Court Justices B.R. Gavai and Ujjal Bhuyan will visit Arunachal Pradesh on March 29-30, 2025, to participate in a Mega Legal Awareness Programme under the initiative ‘Camp-cum-Sewa Aapke Dwar’. This outreach aims to bridge the justice gap for tribal communities residing in Dirang, Bomdila, West Kameng District, and Tawang.
Justice Gavai, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), will lead the initiative alongside Justice Bhuyan, focusing on legal empowerment, grievance redressal, and access to justice.
Why Legal Outreach for Tribals?
India’s tribal population has historically lived in remote regions, often disconnected from mainstream governance and legal systems. Recognizing this, Section 12(a) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides free legal aid to Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure access to their legal rights and benefits.
According to NALSA’s recent statement, over 1.3 lakh tribal individuals have benefited from free legal aid in 2024 alone. Arunachal Pradesh, where 68% of the population belongs to tribal communities (as per the 2011 Census), has been identified as a high-priority region for legal outreach.
Mega Legal Awareness Programme in Arunachal Pradesh
The Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA), in collaboration with:
✅ District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs)
✅ District Administration
✅ Gaon Burahs (village elders)
✅ Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
✅ District Child Protection Unit, West Kameng
will organize the Mega Legal Awareness Programme on March 29-30, 2025.
Key Legal Topics to be Covered
The awareness program will focus on important laws affecting tribal rights, including:
📌 Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 – Protecting land and forest rights of tribals.
📌 Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation, 1945 – Governing customary justice systems in Arunachal Pradesh.
📌 Arunachal Pradesh Civil Court Act, 2021 – Expanding the judicial framework for better access to justice.
Additionally, participants will be introduced to NALSA’s Schemes, such as:
✔️ NALSA (Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights) Scheme, 2015
✔️ APSLSA Legal Aid Schemes
✔️ Various Central and State Welfare Programs
The initiative will also offer on-the-spot legal assistance, allowing tribals to access legal aid, grievance redressal mechanisms, and welfare benefits immediately.
SC Judges’ Visit to Jail & Children’s Home in Tawang
As part of their visit, Justice Gavai and Justice Bhuyan will also visit a jail and a children’s home in Tawang to engage with vulnerable groups, assess their legal needs, and ensure access to justice. This highlights NALSA’s commitment to social justice and legal inclusion for marginalized communities.
Judicial Outreach Beyond Arunachal Pradesh
The Supreme Court has been actively involved in legal outreach and humanitarian efforts. Recently, on March 22, 2025, a delegation of six Supreme Court judges, led by Justice Gavai, visited relief camps in violence-affected Manipur to strengthen legal and humanitarian support for displaced individuals.
A Step Towards Justice for All
The Mega Legal Awareness Programme is a crucial step in ensuring that tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh receive fair access to justice, legal aid, and welfare benefits. With the Supreme Court’s direct involvement, this initiative aims to bridge legal gaps, uphold fundamental rights, and empower marginalized communities.
📢 What are your thoughts on this legal initiative? Should more such outreach programs be conducted across India? Let’s discuss! 👇
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