Chikkamagaluru: Principal district and sessions judge Rajeshwari N Hegde, who heads the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), on Wednesday stressed the need to strengthen legal awareness to ensure equal justice for all, as guaranteed by the Constitution.She was speaking at the inauguration of a four-day training programme for paralegal volunteers, organised jointly by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Outlaw India Foundation, District Legal Services Authority, and the Bar Association at the zilla panchayat.Judge Hegde said that despite constitutional guarantees, a majority of rural residents remain unaware of available legal facilities, resulting in denial of justice due to lack of information and education. Paralegal volunteers, she said, must function as a bridge between the public and the legal system, helping people access their rights.Citing examples such as the right to seek relief during emergencies, including road accidents, she noted that only those who know their rights are able to raise their voices against injustice. “Without awareness, individuals remain deprived of legal facilities,” she observed.She described Lok Adalat as an effective platform for resolving disputes through conciliation, reducing both cost and time spent in courts. In this context, paralegal volunteers should play a crucial role in connecting citizens with legal mechanisms.The judge said free legal aid and awareness programmes are available to individuals with an annual income below Rs 3 lakh, as well as to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, children, and any person in distress.She said that paralegal volunteers must take responsibility for spreading legal awareness and guiding those in need to the District Legal Services Authority.Bar Association president DB Sujendra, senior civil judges and DLSA member secretary V Hanumanthappa, judges Kulkarni and Prakash, Outlaw India Foundation trainers K Vandana and S Tushita, and several paralegal volunteers were present.
