Chennai advocates stress citizens' role in law reforms

Citizens should actively participate in law reforms to protect their rights as society changes. This was the key message from a recent panel discussion held at a law conclave in Chennai. The event, named "Justice Unplugged: Shaping the Future of Law," was organized by VIT School of Law in collaboration with The Hindu. D. Nagasaila, a Madras High Court advocate, spoke about the transformation of laws and institutions over the past seventy years since India's independence. She noted that while the first two decades focused on building legal institutions, recent years have seen their decline. Nagasaila emphasized the growing socio-economic inequality and the risks this poses to citizens' rights if they remain disengaged from the lawmaking process. Shabnam Banu, another advocate from the Madras High Court, agreed that laws are crucial for guarding fundamental rights. She remarked that not all law reforms receive complete support, but they play a vital role in shaping daily life. Banu also highlighted past court rulings that sparked significant societal changes, stressing the need for responsible adaptations in legal reforms to ensure they work for everyone. E. Prema, a law professor at VIT, discussed laws related to outer space. She mentioned international efforts aimed at increasing fairness and accountability in this area. Prema pointed out that laws not only protect rights but also create opportunities for societal progress. The session was moderated by Ramya Kannan, the chief of bureau for The Hindu in Tamil Nadu.