NEW DELHI: The Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana today said that the threat to human rights is the highest in police stations as custodial torture and other police atrocities still prevail in India.

Highlighting the issue of human dignity and fundamental rights, calling them 'sacrosanct,' the CJI added that even the privileged are 'not spared third-degree treatment at police stations.' He said that a nationwide effort for the sensitisation of police officers was necessary so that they are made aware of their fundamental duty.

CJI Ramana said that dissemination of information about the constitutional right to legal aid and availability of free legal aid services was necessary to keep police excesses in check.

"If we have to remain a society which is governed by the rule of law we will have to ensure that we should bridge the gap between the most privileged and the most deprived and vulnerable section of the society," he said.

"The installation of display boards and outdoor hoardings in every police station and prison is a step in this direction,” he said, adding that “NALSA must also actively carry out nationwide sensitisation of police officers," Ramana added.

Speaking at the launch of a legal service mobile application and the vision and mission statement of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at Vigyan Bhavan of which he is also the ex-officio Patron-in-Chief the CJI, said that to keep police excesses in check, dissemination of information about the constitutional right to legal aid and availability of free legal aid services is necessary.

NALSA was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

Stressing the need that the justice system should be made available to the most marginal sections of the society, Ramana said, "If, as an institution, the judiciary wants to garner the faith of the citizens, we have to make everyone feel assured that we exist for them. For the longest time, the vulnerable population has lived outside the system of justice."

The CJI also said that during the freedom struggle legal luminaries offered their services to freedom fighters without charging any fees, especially for those who were targetted by the British administration.