Brief Nalsa
Brief Nalsa
Brief Nalsa
Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and
weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all. Articles 14 and 22(1) of the
Constitution also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a
legal system which promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity to all. In the year
1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came
into force on 9th November, 1995 to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing
free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of
equal opportunity. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted
under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation
of legal aid programmes and to lay down policies and principles for making legal
services available under the Act.
In every State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High
Court Legal Services Committee have been constituted. District Legal Services
Authorities, Taluk Legal Services Committees have been constituted in the Districts and
most of the Taluks to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to
provide free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.
Functioning of NALSA
NALSA lays down policies, principles, guidelines and frames effective and
economical schemes for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the Legal
Services Programmes throughout the country.
a) Payment of court fee, process fees and all other charges payable or incurred in
connection with any legal proceedings;
b) Providing service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
c) Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and other documents in legal
proceedings.
d) Preparation of appeal, paper book including printing and translation of
documents in legal proceedings.
(b) Chapter VI-A has been inserted in the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 in the
year 2002, with a view to provide compulsory pre-Litigative mechanism for conciliation
and settlement of disputes relating to ‘Public Utility Services’.
During the period 01.04.2014 to30.09.2014 76551 Lok Adalats were organized and
they settled more than 34.37 lacs cases. In about 46,768 Motor Vehicle Accident Claim
cases, compensation to the tune of Rs.894.85 crores.
LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAMMES
As a part of the preventive and strategic legal aid, NALSA through the State
Legal Services Authorities, conduct legal literacy programmes. In some States, Legal
Literacy Programmes are conducted every year in schools and colleges and also for
empowerment of women in a routine manner, besides the rural legal literacy camps.