Prime minister Manmohan Singh addressed lawyers present at the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) centenary celebrations on 16 February in Delhi, urging them to take on more pro bono matters.
Singh said:
The National Legal Services Authority has formulated a number of schemes to provide “access to justice” to the hitherto marginalized people. These include schemes for free legal aid to under-trial prisoners […]
I would urge members of the legal fraternity at various levels to become active participants and facilitators in the implementation of these schemes intended to empower the marginalised people.
“You have served the country exceedingly well in the first fifty years of your existence, but I venture to think that the best is yet to come,’ he concluded. [Full speech at PIB]
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"The emergence of a multilateral legal and judicial architecture, having a bearing on the domestic laws of the country and vice versa, necessitates an in-depth understanding of the principles of public and private international laws," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said while inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bar Council of India.
Manmohan Singh urged lawyers to equip themselves with expertise needed to deal with the case of conflict resolution in intellectual property rights and international commercial agreements.
"Cases relating to our obligations and commitments made in international agreements and conventions, such as the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements, have now started reaching courts of law and Arbitral Tribunals. I would urge all members of the Bar to equip themselves with the expertise necessary to handle these new types of cases," the prime minister said.
http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1466780.ece
Instead of telling otherwise to do pro bono work, he should perform his duties properly which will probably benefit the nation and the poor more.