National Legal Services Day, Nov 9, Commemorates the Enactment of Indian Legal Service Authorities Act, 1987. It is celebrated to Spread Awareness about Various Provisions Under Legal Services Authorities Act & Rights of Litigants, A Person Engaged in a Lawsuit.
Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 was enacted on 11 Oct, 1987. But it came into effect on 9 Nov, 1995. Under its provisions, India's National Legal Services Authority, NALSA, was constituted on 5 Dec, 1995. It Ensures Justice to All Citizens, Regardless of their Social or Economic Status & Oversees Legal Aid Programs Implementation at National Level. It Helps to Minimize Backlog of Indian Courts via Lok Adalats.
The Main Objectives of Legal Services are:
- Lok Adalat - Settlement through Conciliation
- Mediation/Conciliation - Resolving Disputes Without Going to Trial
- Victim Compensation - Compensation to Victim by State
- Legal Aid - Free Legal Aid for Weaker Sections
- Legal Advice - Formal Opinion Regarding the Substance
- Legal Literacy Programs - Creating Legal Awareness Programs
To fulfill its Objectives, NALSA performs following Functions:
- Conducting Lok Adalats
- Payment of Court Fee, Process Fee & All Other Charges Payable or Incurred in Connection with any Legal Proceeding
- Providing Service of Lawyers in Legal Proceedings
- Obtaining & Supplying Certified Copies of Orders & Other Documents in Legal Proceedings
- Preparation of Appeal, Paper Book including Printing & Translation of Documents in Legal Proceedings
NALSA Organizational Structure consists of State Legal Services Authority (SLSAs), District Legal Services Authority (DLSAs), Taluk Legal Services Committee (TLSCs), Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSCs) & High Court Legal Services Committee (HCLSCs).
NALSA Provides its Services to the following:
- Women & Children
- Members of SC/ST
- Industry Workmen
- Victims of Mass Disaster, Violence, Flood, Drought, Earthquake, Industrial Disaster
- Disabled People
- Persons in Custody
- Person with Maximum Annual Income of Rs. 1 Lakh
- Victims of Human Trafficking
As a Recent Initiative, NALSA has launched Legal Services Mobile App on Android & iOS Versions to Enable Easy Access to Legal Aid to Common Citizens. Another Initiative is DISHA Scheme. Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched a Scheme, Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA). Under this Scheme, All Access to Justice Programs is Merged & Up-scaled to All India Level.
Know Your Legal Services, Know Your Rights. Towards Yourself, its Both, Your Duty & Your Right.
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