LEGAL AWARENESS: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO REDUCE THE PENDENCY OF CASES IN INDIA.
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Abstract
Legal awareness is crucial for citizens to understand their rights and duties, but the Indian judiciary faces increasing cases and vacancies, with over 4.7 crore cases pending across different levels. The Indian Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of free legal services, particularly for prisoners facing deprivation of life or personal liberty. The court has directed the state to provide legal assistance to all prisoners and emphasized the need for a comprehensive legal service program. Legal awareness aims to empower individuals and promote social justice, and access to justice. However, challenges include reluctance to accept advice, financial constraints, lack of knowledge of rights and duties, and excessive understanding of legal issues. To address this issue, the government should include legal awareness in school curriculums, engage lawyers and law students in awareness programs, organize legal awareness camps in villages, involve grassroots social workers, and inform litigants about alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.