Ease of Living and Business Possible Only With Ease of Justice: PM Modi

In a landmark address at the All India Conference of Law Ministers and Law Secretaries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected India’s socio-economic progress to judicial efficiency. He asserted that “ease of living and ease of business are achievable only with ease of justice,” urging systemic reforms to make the legal process faster, simpler, and more transparent.

Why Ease of Justice Matters

PM Modi highlighted how delayed justice and complex legal procedures hurt citizens and businesses alike:

• Economic Impact: Prolonged litigation discourages investment and stifles growth.
• Public Trust: Backlogs erode faith in the judiciary, especially for vulnerable groups like farmers and small businesses.
• Global Competitiveness: India’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ gains rely on a reliable dispute-resolution framework.

“Timely justice isn’t a privilege—it’s a right,” Modi stated, noting that judicial delays undermine initiatives like Make in India and startup growth.

5 Key Judicial Reforms Proposed

1. Tech-Driven Courts

• Over 18,000 courts digitized under the e-Courts project.
• Push for AI-powered legal research and blockchain for secure documentation.

2. Mediation Over Litigation

• Expand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to reduce case loads.
• Pre-litigation mediation to resolve commercial disputes faster.

3. Simplifying Outdated Laws

• Repeal obsolete statutes; decriminalize minor offenses via the Jan Vishwas Bill.
• Streamline land and contract laws to cut frivolous litigation.

4. Fast-Track Commercial Courts

• Special benches for high-value disputes to boost investor confidence.

5. Legal Awareness Campaigns

• Educate citizens, especially in rural areas, to prevent unnecessary lawsuits.

Cooperation Between Centre and States

Modi called for “cooperative federalism”, urging states to adopt uniform best practices for dispute resolution. He emphasized model templates for frequent cases like land conflicts.

Challenges and the Path Forward

Despite progress, hurdles like judge shortages and infrastructure gaps persist. However, tools like the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) are improving transparency.

“A swift justice system is the foundation of a thriving economy,” Modi concluded, framing reforms as critical to India’s $5 trillion GDP goal.