NEW DELHI: To take judicial wisdom to the masses, Chief Justice T S Thakur has inspired the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to rope in Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan and film personalities like Gulzar, Prakash Jha, Ramesh Sippy and Javed Akhtar to make documentaries. This novel idea will portray success stories where the needy have got justice. CJI Thakur prefers that the celebrities become the ambassadors of an innovative legal awareness campaign.
Chief Justice T S Thakur, who was earlier executive chairman of NALSA, said, “We want something just as memorable, which will have legal awareness as its theme. We would want to reach out to people through it so that they are made aware. They should know their rights and can have unhindered access to justice.”
The CJI has told Prakash Jha that he wants short documentaries, films and promos to be made on NALSA. The B-Town celebrities have assured him that their services will be pro bono. Gulzar and Javed Akhtar will pen the lyrics of a special song which will be part of the promotional film.
“The focus of using their services is to popularise legal aid services in the country and help those needing it,” says an NALSA official.
CJI Thakur also wants due publicity given to the good work done by the judiciary especially concerning orders boosting social justice and the welfare of the people.
Since 2011, NALSA has been organising legal services clinics, especially in rural areas. It has even recruited convicts with basic education and good behaviour to volunteer as paralegals. Tihar Jail has 46 such volunteers. NALSA has also promoted its services in rural areas via community radio services and telecast programmes on a regular basis.