Protests against judgments have become common in India. Of late the masses have been taking to the streets against judicial pronouncements. Such protests even led to riots, violence and enmity between fellow beings. But if you differ with a judgment, you really need to counter it through appeals or revision or review petitions in the court itself.
But most of us are legally illiterate, which means we lack the basic knowledge in the laws that govern us. Around 35% of India's population are illiterate and most of them are deprived of their basic amenities and rights. Even those who are literate get confused if their rights are violated. Ignorance of the basic legal rights means the people won't defend them all, which may turn our governments arbitrary, when there is no opposition against injustice. There are so many instances where people remain silent against the violations of their fundamental rights. Without our fundamental rights, our existence is futile and vulnerable.
Legal literacy is the corner stone of democracy. It means knowledge about the primary aspects of law. Knowledge of law is power and we must be well-equipped with it. Legal education helps in changing the attitude of public and make them connect to social problems much more effectively, thus helping them to become ideal citizens.
Legal awareness is pertinent for the overall growth and development of individuals in a nation.When citizens, particularly marginalised or underprivileged groups, know what the law has to offer them, they can recognise and challenge injustices much more forcefully.The non-implementation of many laws is partly attributed to the lack of awareness of their intended beneficiaries.
The public should make use of available opportunities to gain legal knowledge. A legal literate person knows about alternative dispute resolution options like adalats, arbitration, conciliation etc. Such mechanism can save the time and money of litigants as they resolve the conflicts amicably. Apt legal knowledge is necessary to realise if one's rights are infringed and to tackle a situation. How many of us knew that there is free legal aid for the poor?!
Just reading the books or pamphlets on laws do not make your legally literate!Government and the NGOs disseminate legal literacy through several ways. Weekly classes, programes of Legal Services Authority, free books on the Constitution and relevant Acts, public lectures, appointing barefoot lawyers to reach out to rural areas, classes by police personnel etc are some among the measures.
After attending classes or learning from law books, how can you identify if you are legally literate? You are legally literate if you know: your fundamental rights, solutions to any legal conflicts, where to look for the right legal information, when and how to obtain a legal help, and about the available legal remedies.
In short, the first step towards that knowledge of law, which can transform people’s lives, is legal literacy.