Intersectionality Of Barriers: When Economic, Geographic And Cultural Challenges Converge
- IJLLR Journal
- Feb 14, 2025
- 1 min read
Saurabh Barnwal, Chanakya National Law University, Patna
Gunjan Kumar, Chanakya National Law University, Patna
ABSTRACT
This article examines the multifaceted barriers to access to justice in India, exploring how economic vulnerability, geographical isolation and cultural constraints intersect to create systemic challenges for marginalized communities. The research analyzes how these barriers disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including women, tribal communities, and economically disadvantaged sections. The study reveals that approximately 67% of prisoners awaiting trial belong to weaker societal groups, while 80% of India's workforce operates in the informal sector with limited legal protection. Geographic barriers, particularly in northeastern states and mountainous regions, compound these challenges, with some communities traveling hundreds of kilometers to reach the nearest judicial institution In addition to this, cultural factors such as the caste system and patriarchal structures add to the difficulty of accessing justice for Dalit women, who experience triple marginalization. This article further covers institutional problems, such as judicial delay, linguistic barriers, and corruption within the system. While noting the recent technological initiative by the Supreme Court and legislative initiatives, such as the Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008, it also stresses the need for systemic reform. The research concludes by stating that such intersectional barriers require a radical rethink of justice delivery that has to recognize the complexity of social identities and systematically deconstruct institutional biases that serve to perpetuate systemic exclusion.
Keywords: Access to Justice, Intersectional Barriers, Marginalized Communities, Judicial Infrastructure and Legal Aid.
