- NALSA is a statutory body created under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- Its core purpose is to:
- Provide free legal aid to socially and economically weaker sections.
- Organise Lok Adalats to resolve disputes through compromise and settlement.
- Broad aim: Speedy disposal of cases and reduction of burden on regular courts, ensuring that access to justice is not denied due to poverty or social disadvantage.
Constitutional Backing
- Article 39A (Directive Principle):
Directs the State to provide free legal aid and ensure justice is not denied due to economic or other disabilities. - Article 14:
Guarantees equality before law and equal protection of laws. - Article 22(1):
Protects the right of arrested persons to be defended by a legal practitioner of their choice.
NALSA operationalises these constitutional promises on the ground.
Organisation and Structure
- Legal basis: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- Head of NALSA:
- Patron-in-Chief: Chief Justice of India.
- Executive Chairman: Second senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court.
- Headquarters: Located in the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
Federal Legal Aid Network
- At State level:
- Each state has a State Legal Services Authority (SLSA).
- At High Court level:
- Each High Court has a High Court Legal Services Committee.
- At District and Taluk level:
- District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA) and
- Taluk / Sub-divisional Legal Services Committees.
These bodies implement NALSA’s policies, provide free legal services, and conduct Lok Adalats at the grassroots level.
Functions and Activities of NALSA
- Ensure free and competent legal services to eligible persons in civil, criminal, and other matters.
- Organise Lok Adalats (including National, Mega, and Permanent Lok Adalats) for amicable and quick settlement of disputes.
- Conduct legal awareness and literacy programmes through SLSAs and DLSAs:
- Legal literacy camps,
- Awareness drives in villages, schools, jails, etc.
- Coordinate and monitor the functioning of:
- State, District and Taluk Legal Services Authorities.
- Promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms to reduce pendency and cost of litigation.
What is Included in “Free Legal Services”?
For eligible persons, NALSA and its network may provide:
- Payment of court fees, process fees and other procedural charges.
- Engagement of lawyers / advocates and payment of their fees.
- Preparation of pleadings, petitions, written statements, appeals, etc.
- Supply of certified copies of orders/judgments and documents required in cases.
- Expenses related to translation, typing, photocopying, and preparation of paper books in appellate matters.
Who Is Eligible for Free Legal Aid?
Free legal services can be availed by:
- Women and children (irrespective of income).
- Members of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- Industrial workmen.
- Persons affected by:
- Mass disasters, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disasters, etc.
- Persons with disabilities.
- Persons in custody
- including prisoners, those in protective homes, juvenile homes, psychiatric institutions, etc.
- Persons with annual income below the notified limit:
- For most cases, an individual whose annual income does not exceed a prescribed threshold (e.g. about ₹1 lakh; exact amount is revised by authorities).
- For matters before the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, the income ceiling is higher (e.g. ₹5 lakh).
- Victims of trafficking or beggary.
