Advocate Jitendra Sawant’s Opinion on Legal Reforms in India
Advocate Jitendra Sawant’s Opinion on Legal Reforms in India
Blog Article
A Visionary Voice in Indian Legal Reform
Advocate Jitendra Sawant, one of India’s most respected legal minds, has consistently voiced the need for urgent and meaningful legal reforms in India. With over two decades of legal experience across civil, criminal, and constitutional law, his insights are grounded not only in theory but in practice — shaped by real cases, human struggles, and courtroom realities. His call for reform is not abstract; it is deeply rooted in protecting the rights of the common citizen and ensuring justice delivery is timely, transparent, and accessible.
Reforming the Judicial Backlog and Delay in Justice
One of Advocate Sawant’s most pressing concerns is the chronic delay in judicial processes. With millions of cases pending across various levels of courts in India, justice delayed often becomes justice denied.
“The legal system cannot be a place where the poor wait for decades. Speedy justice is a fundamental right, not a luxury,” he has said in several forums.
He advocates for:
Increasing the number of judges across all levels of judiciary
Setting up fast-track courts for time-sensitive cases such as sexual assault, corruption, and tenancy disputes
Leveraging digital courtrooms and e-filing systems to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative bottlenecks
Sawant believes that a digital-first approach must complement — not replace — traditional judicial procedures, especially in semi-urban and rural jurisdictions where internet access may still be limited.
Simplifying Laws for Common Citizens
According to Advocate Sawant, the Indian legal system remains too complex and inaccessible to the average person. He strongly recommends simplification and consolidation of outdated colonial-era laws, many of which are redundant, overly technical, or ambiguous.
He proposes:
Drafting laws in simple regional languages, so ordinary people can understand their rights and responsibilities
Eliminating archaic terminology and confusing legal jargon from acts, statutes, and rules
Publishing public-friendly summaries of landmark judgments for better public understanding
He also supports paralegal training and community legal education programs as tools to empower citizens with knowledge of their rights.
Strengthening Legal Aid and Access to Justice
Advocate Sawant is a long-time advocate for stronger legal aid services, particularly for vulnerable communities like women, children, tribal populations, and manual laborers. In his view, legal aid in India is underfunded, understaffed, and often misunderstood. SEOMoz says
He suggests:
A nationwide overhaul of the legal aid system
Dedicated public defenders with proper salaries and training
Monitoring bodies to ensure legal aid lawyers remain accountable and deliver quality services
“Justice should never be a product you buy. It must be a right the Constitution promises and the courts copyright,” says Sawant.
Police and Criminal Procedure Reform
Another area of focus for Advocate Sawant is the urgent reform of police practices and criminal investigation standards. He has handled numerous cases involving police overreach, custodial torture, and fabricated evidence — especially in rural areas where checks and balances are weak.
His recommendations include:
Clear SOPs for arrests and interrogations
Mandatory use of body cameras during all arrest and custody procedures
Stronger implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on police reform
Independent investigation bodies for police misconduct cases
These steps, he believes, are essential to restore public faith in law enforcement and ensure that justice begins at the point of arrest — not just in the courtroom.
Judicial Accountability and Ethics
Sawant does not shy away from addressing accountability within the judiciary. While maintaining deep respect for the institution, he acknowledges that transparency and ethics must be institutionalized to retain public trust.
He suggests:
Mandatory asset declarations by judges
Independent judicial conduct committees to handle complaints
More diversity in judicial appointments — in terms of gender, caste, and background
He also supports live streaming of court proceedings, especially in the Supreme Court and High Courts, to enhance openness and public confidence.
Empowering Women and Marginalized Groups through Legal Reform
As a staunch human rights advocate, Advocate Sawant insists that legal reforms must address social inequality head-on. Laws must evolve not only in structure but in spirit — to serve the most marginalized.
He champions:
Stricter enforcement of domestic violence and harassment laws
Gender-neutral laws for sexual assault and workplace safety
Legal empowerment of tribal communities, Dalits, and religious minorities
For Sawant, true legal reform is not about paperwork, but about people. He argues that every law should be evaluated by one core standard: Does it protect the vulnerable, or does it protect the powerful?
Reimagining Legal Education for a Modern India
To ensure that the legal system evolves, Sawant places special emphasis on reforming legal education. He proposes a curriculum that balances technical knowledge with ethics, practical training, and social responsibility.
His vision includes:
Mandatory internships in public interest law firms or NGOs
Courses on digital laws, privacy rights, and international human rights
Greater focus on soft skills like mediation, negotiation, and client counseling
By raising the quality of legal education, he believes India can produce not just better lawyers, but better custodians of justice.
Conclusion: A Thought Leader in Legal Transformation
Advocate Jitendra Sawant’s opinion on legal reforms in India is not just theoretical — it is rooted in experience, backed by compassion, and aimed at creating a more just, transparent, and inclusive legal system. His recommendations span the entire legal ecosystem — from courts and police to education and citizens’ rights.
In a country where millions are still denied timely justice, his vision for reform acts as a blueprint for transformative change. Through his tireless work and outspoken advocacy, he continues to push the Indian legal system closer to the ideals of the Constitution: equality, liberty, and justice for all.
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