Dhaka: Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on Saturday lamented that justice cannot be ensured in many cases for the hapless people for lack of capable lawyers to defend them at district level.

“The Constitution stipulates that everyone is equal in the eye of law, and everyone has the equal right to access to legal shelter. But, it’s only limited to the Constitution as we can’t implement it. It’s our failure. Actually, the helpless people aren’t getting justice,” he said.

The Chief Justice was addressing a views-exchange meeting and unveiling the cover of publications at the Supreme Court auditorium organised by Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee and Manusher Jonno Foundation.

The legal aid committee and the National Legal Aid Services Organisation have been providing assistance to helpless, insolvent and underprivileged people.

Speaking at the programme as the chief guest, the Chief Justice said though the National Legal Aid Services Organisation was established in 2000, its panel lawyers could not ensure justice in many cases for lack of their competence and experience.

“Such service had used to be given during the British rule. At that time, renowned and experienced lawyers used to be appointed as APPs (Assistant Public Prosecutors) for criminal cases in every district as it was a honorary post. When killing case accused couldn’t appoint any lawyer for defending them, the DC used to request the famous lawyers to stand for them free of cost. Now, this practice is totally absent,” he observed.

SK Sinha said now ruling party men are being made APPs, no matter whoever is in power. “A panel list of pro-ruling party lawyers is now made and no one is appointed as APP from out of this list. In the past, there was a panel of 4-5 famous lawyers so that they can strongly argue in the court. We’ve lost this tradition. Had we not lost it, it would have been possible for us to give far better legal aid.”

Raising a question as to how much the panel lawyers of National Legal Aid Services Organisation are playing their role in ensuring justice for the poor people, he said the experienced and renowned lawyers decline to be its panel members, making it difficult for ensuring justice.

“When inexperienced and incapable lawyers stand against seasoned and famous lawyers, it doesn’t match. As a result, the money from the public fund is spent, but the destitute don’t get justice,” he deplored.

The Chief Justice urged all to come forward to help the helpless giving proper legal aid and ensure justice for them.

He also urged the SC Legal Aid Committee chairman to arrange training for legal aid panel lawyers to enhance their efficiency and capability.