Vice President Ansari urges lawyers to introspect on expediting dispensation of justice

Chandigarh, May 5 (ANI): Asserting that the role of lawyers in the initial years of India's independence was critical in emphasizing the Rule of Law in the governance of the country, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Friday urged the legal profession to introspect on expediting the dispensation of justice.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana here, Ansari said: "I am confident that the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana would lead such an effort so that the profession becomes a beacon light to our society and polity, and provides a helping hand to empower the poor and needy."

"I believe the legal profession can, indeed must, reclaim the hallowed ground that it occupied during our freedom struggle and in the early years of the fledgling republic. The need for introspection is imperative; it should lead to an ethical renewal in actual practice. It is essential for the legal profession today to help expedite the dispensation of justice," he added.

Stating that advocates play a vital role in the administration of justice and have a huge responsibility towards the society, Ansari said: "This audience is well aware of the dicta of our courts that "Advocacy touches and asserts the primary value of freedom of expression, which is essential to the rule of law and liberty of citizens".

"The Supreme Court has held that a social duty is cast upon the legal profession to show the people beacon light by their conduct and actions. The poor, uneducated and exploited mass of the people need a helping hand from the legal profession," he added.

"By the same token, and for the same reason, the Supreme Court has held: "An advocate is under an obligation to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the public justice system is enabled to function at its full potential," he said.

"Any violation of the principles of professional ethics by an advocate is unfortunate and unacceptable. Ignoring even a minor violation/misconduct militates against the fundamental foundation of the public justice system", he added. (ANI)