Development funds remain with middlemen: CJI

Ranchi, May 20: Chief Justice of India (CJI) K G Balakrishnan has said the money released for the downtrodden of the society was not reaching them despite government efforts.

The CJI said, ''Development funds are pocketed by the middlemen and the people who are really meant to be the beneficiaries remain deprived.'' Justice Balakrishnan along with Supreme Court Justices Ashok Bhan and B S Shirpurkar inaugurated a 'Legal Aid Clinic' and 'Law library' for tribals at Tamar area of the state capital.

Urging the tribals to send their wards to schools, Justice Balakrishnan said only education was the means to make them aware of their legal rights.

He hoped that the aid clinic and law library would be helpful in sorting out their legal problems.

It was for the first time that the CJI visited the state.

Earlier, the CJI also inaugurated a mediation centre at the High Court premises here.

UNI