Prime Minister Modi calls on countries to cooperate in judicial field

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday noted that criminals have been leveraging the latest technology to finance and operate across regions and called for the legal system to be rethought, reimagined and reformed to deliver justice.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA)-Commonwealth Lawyers and Advocates Conference (CASGC), he said countries already cooperate with each other in the areas of air traffic control and maritime traffic and advocated extending this to investigations and judicial enforcement. .

“When we work together, jurisdiction becomes a vehicle for delivering justice rather than delaying it,” he said, adding that the nature and scope of crime had changed fundamentally.

He said sometimes ensuring justice for one country requires cooperation with other countries.

He expressed hope that the conference would work to ensure that everyone has timely access to justice and that no one is left behind.

He said the rise of cryptocurrencies and cyber threats presented new challenges and the need to make justice delivery systems more flexible and adaptable.

Modi said that the challenges of the 21st century cannot be dealt with using the methods of the 20th century.

Citing ancient Indian beliefs, he said that justice is the root of independence and self-government. Without justice, a country cannot exist.

Noting the large presence of representatives from African countries, he said India had a special relationship with the African Union. “We are proud of the African Union’s membership of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.

The Prime Minister said legal education is a key tool in the pursuit of justice and committed to getting more women into law schools to increase their presence in the legal system.

The world needs young legal talents with diverse perspectives, he said, adding that legal education needs to adapt to changing times and technology.

The theme of the conference is “Cross-border Challenges in Justice Implementation”.

This conference will consider important issues related to law and justice, such as judicial transition and the ethical dimensions of legal practice; administrative accountability; and re-examining modern legal education, etc.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)