About Judicial  Colloquia

Maharashtra Judicial Exchange
on Access to Justice

The first Judicial Exchange on Access to Justice took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from 14-16 November 2003. It was convened by judges of the Bombay High Court and facilitated by the CHRI and INTERIGHTS.

The Exchange was attended by around 50 judges and jurists and several Indian activists and academics and international experts. It focussed on issues relating to access to justice in the context of poverty and marginalisation, and provided an opportunity for senior judges, primarily from within the state of Maharashtra, to reflect upon innovations and successes in the development of case law and practice on these issues within India and to address further challenges in ensuring effective access to justice.

With an overall focus on the role of the judge, participants:

• " discussed the experiences of users of the courts;

• " reviewed the use of innovations in judicial practice to facilitate effective protection of human rights, including through applying international and comparative human rights law in national courts;

• " examined practical initiatives aimed at facilitating access and ensuring enforcement of judgments; and

• " discussed the use of external sources of expertise by individual judges and courts.

Participants and speakers addressed these issues in the context of issues which have been of particular recent concern, including the experience of courts users, in particular women, minorities, dalits and tribal communities and individuals; the judges' role in enforcing economic and social rights, particularly the rights to housing; and securing the right to life and liberty, focusing in particular on how to address the chronic problem of inadequate and ineffective investigation and prosecution. Participants also examined the scope for courts and judges to benefit from the learning and experience of expert bodies and individuals from outside the judicial system, and finally, discussed ways and means to ensure more effective enforcement of judgments.

In addition the Exchange provided a forum for judges to discuss the scope of developing ongoing judicial education on human rights within Maharashtra.

Cilck here for the Participants' List and Agenda.