Legal Services Authority Act (LSAA),1987

• The LSAA, 1987, came into effect in November 1995
  • The idea of a legal aid programme was floated in the 1950s.
  • In 1980, the Committee for Implementing Legal Aid Schemes (CILAS) was established under the chairmanship of then SC judge Justice PN Bhagwati.
• The National Legal Service Day (NLSD) was declared on November 9, 2009.
• As stated under the Act, the legal aid is to be provided by the State, District, and Taluk Legal Service Authorities/Commissions formed throughout the country.

Types of services under the Legal Services Authority Act

Free legal awareness

• To make the public aware of laws and schemes issued by public authorities.
• Legal camps and aid centres are organised by authorities so that the general public can seek advice.

Free legal aid counsel

• A person who wants to defend or file a case in a court of law but does not have the means to hire an advocate can seek the assistance of a free legal aid attorney.
• Lok Adalats are the primary method by which the legal services authorities decide disputes.
• Victim Compensation
• Settlements of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
  • Various ADR mechanisms are Arbitration, Conciliation, and Judicial settlement, including settlement through Lok Adalat or Mediation.

ADR refers to how people can resolve disputes without a trial. These processes are generally confidential, less formal, and less stressful than traditional court proceedings. ADR can be instrumental in reducing the burden of litigation on courts

Structural Organization under LSAA

1. National Level: NALSA was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
   • Supreme Court: Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
2. State Level: State Legal Services Authority. It is headed by the State HC’s CJ, its Patron-in-Chief.
   • High Court: High Court Legal Services Committee
3. District Level: District Legal Services Authority. The District Judge of the District is its ex-officio Chairman.
4. Taluka/Sub-Division Level: Taluka/ Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee. A senior Civil Judge heads it.

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

• It monitors and reviews the effectiveness of legal aid programs.
• It develops rules and principles for providing legal services under the Act.
• It also distributes funding and grants to state legal services authorities and non-profit organisations to help them execute legal aid systems and initiatives.

Composition Of NALSA

1. NALSA shall consist of the CJI, who shall be the Patron-in-Chief.
2. A serving or retired Judge of the SC (nominated by the President, in consultation with the CJI) who shall be the Executive Chairman.

Who is eligible to get free legal services?

• Women and children
• Members of SC/ST
• Industrial workmen
• Victims of mass disasters, violence, floods, drought, earthquakes, and industrial disasters.
• Disabled persons
• Persons in custody
• Victims of Trafficking in Human beings or begar.
• Those persons who have an annual income of less than
  • The amount prescribed by the respective State Government, if the case is before any court other than the SC, and
  • Rs. 5 Lakhs if the case is before the Supreme Court.

Other Initiatives

Legal Service Mobile App

• NALSA has launched the Legal Services Mobile App on Android and iOS to enable easy access to legal aid for ordinary citizens.

DISHA Scheme

• The Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched comprehensive, holistic, integrated and systemic solutions for access to justice at the pan-India level.
• This will be achieved through a “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA)” scheme.
• All the Access to Justice Programmes have been merged under the DISHA scheme and upscaled to all India levels.