Social Justice
Social justice means a fair and just relationship between individual and society. In simple terms, social justice refers to justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. It aims to meet the challenge of socio-economic inequality by rule of law. It encompasses the following:
- Assuring the protection of equal access to liberties, rights, and opportunities.
- Taking care of the least advantaged members of society.
- It seeks to achieve economic justice without any violent conflict.
- It is equated with rule of law.
Importance of Social Justice in India
Social Justice takes within its sweep the objective of removing all inequalities and affording equal opportunities to all citizens in social affairs as well as economic activities.
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Equality: We should shift from equality of outcomes to equality of opportunities.
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Peace and Order: If the majority disregards smaller sections in the community, it drives them to rebellion.
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Dignity: To ensure life to be meaningful and livable with human dignity.
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Mitigate Sufferings: It is a dynamic device to mitigate the sufferings of the poor, weak Dalits, tribals’ and deprived sections of the society.
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Human Resources: It will help in the conservation of human resource by provision of health and education facilities.
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Freedom to form political, economic or religious institutions: It will help to eradicate the challenges of caste system, untouchability and other discrimination in the society.
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Improved status of women: Ill practices of dowry, female foeticide would decline. It can also address the issues declining sex ratio and limited education opportunities for girls.
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Legal Justice: which means that the system of administration of justice must provide a cheap, expeditious and effective instrument for realization of justice by all sections of the people irrespective of their social or economic position or their financial resources Social justice is a dynamic tool to improve the conditions of the marginalised sections of the society. If implemented in letter and spirit can help ensure human dignity and equal opportunities.