LD PM 2LST

Singh said lawyers were an integral part of the system
of administration of justice and had a role not confined only
to courts and advising clients.
"The role of lawyers is not confined to courts alone or
advising clients in business deals. It extends to being an
integral part of our system of administration of justice - and
justice is not just in the legal sense, but justice - social,
economic and political - as set out in the preamble of our
Constitution," he said.
Noting that lawyers had historically contributed
handsomely to each of the areas of justice, whether during
Independence struggle, framing of the Constitution or just
government, the Prime Minister said even today outstanding
lawyers were part of his Cabinet, some of whom had been
members of BAI.
"The BAI too has a larger objective beyond the furtherance
of professional interests. It aims at promoting public and
national welfare in manifold directions and upholding the
Constitution of India and the Rule of Law," he added.
Singh said the BAI has always maintained very high
standards of professional ethics and values and recalled the
history of the association through its 50 years of existence.
India's Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said India's
judiciary was the largest in ensuring the rule of law, which
stood on the shoulders of the lawyers who are the link between
the citizens and the judiciary.
"They play an important role and sensitive lawyers are the
need of the hour. We have to do everything to ensure this.
That is why we have initiated a reforms package starting with
the National Legal Mission looking at governance issues by
evolving a litigation policy, an arrears grid and to provide
an effective infrastructure," he added.
Mooting the idea of having e-courts and e-governance, a
means of justice delivery through the Internet, Moily said the
idea was to have an e-court in every High Court, and one in
every district within a year. PTI