Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana has said the Centre, states and Union Territories are under an obligation to formulate programmes and services to reintegrate women prisoners into the mainstream society as otherwise they would be subjected to untold stigma and discrimination.

Delivering the keynote address as patron of the National Legal Services Authority to mark the 32nd central authority meeting of Nalsa here on Wednesday evening, CJI Ramana said: “Often incarcerated women have to face graver prejudices, stigma and discrimination, which makes their rehabilitation a tough challenge. As a welfare state, we are obligated to provide women prisoners with programmes and services that enable them to effectively reintegrate into the society, on an equal basis with men.”

Taking note of the plight of women prisoners, Justice Ramana further stressed the need for measures such as “non-discriminatory access to education and vocational training, dignified and remunerated work”.

CJI Ramana appreciated the work of the legal services authorities during the National Lok Adalat organised on September 11 and congratulated them for clearing

more than 29.5 lakh cases across 33 states and Union Territories.

Justice Ramana laid emphasis on increasing “access to justice”, stating that “although much has been spoken about increasing access to justice, the question remains as to how to ensure effective and substantive access to justice to all classes of people and how to meet these gaps”.

Justice U.U. Lalit, the second seniormost Supreme Court judge and executive chairman, Nalsa, highlighted the issue of overcrowding of prisons and stressed upon the need to take immediate steps in such direction.

Justice Lalit also pointed out that due to the pandemic restrictions, schools are shut down and the children living in juvenile, observational and children homes are in an unimaginable situation. He urged law students to come forward and impart education to underprivileged children of the society.

Justice Lalit also appreciated the efforts of the legal services authorities of 33 states who successfully organised the National Lok Adalat on September 11 and achieved the historic disposal of cases.

The central authority of Nalsa meeting was attended by all the members.

The central authority consists of the CJI, Nalsa executive chairman, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, executive chairpersons of Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka state legal services authorities, secretary, department of justice, Bar Council of India chairman, senior advocates Siddharth Luthra, Meenakshi Arora and K.V. Vishwanathan, social workers Beena Chaintalapuri and Priti Pravin Patkar, and member secretary, Nalsa.