Third ISA Forum of Sociology (July 10-14, 2016)

121

Democratic Decentralisation and Justice Delivery

RC10 Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management (host committee)

Language: English

The problem of access to justice encompasses absence of knowledge as to one’s rights; where to go in case of violation of a right and what to do in order to get redressal. The problem is further aggravated by one’s incapacity to understand legal jargon. The high cost involved in the legal procedure, which keeps the aggrieved away from the formal court setup is also another matter of concern. The widespread corruption prevailing in the judicial system and the legal complexities of the system are another hindrance. The procedure in courts, which only lawyers can understand, is extremely complex. In addition to the above, denial of access to justice has led to mushrooming of parallel systems of justice. 
Nobody can deny the fact that the democratization of the justice delivery system should start at the grassroots level through transforming and sensitizing existing dispute settlement mechanisms to human rights and constitutional values and linking them with the formal justice system. 
Justice is critical to any poverty-reduction agenda and economic growth. A functioning justice system is not only a mark of development but also a factor of development. Thus, access to justice is not only central to the realization of constitutionally guaranteed rights, but also to broader goals of development and poverty reduction, and urgently needs acceptance as a development indicator. Posters: