9^th November of every year is observed as National Legal Services Day to commemorate the commencement of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force on 9^th November, 1995.

On this day, legal awareness camps are held by State Legal Services Authorities across the country to apprise people about the availability of free legal aid.

The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted 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):

• It has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes.
• 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.

Persons Eligible for Getting Free Legal Services:

• Women and children;
• Members of SC/ST
• Industrial workmen
• Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
• Disabled persons. Vi) Persons in custody
• Persons whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1 lakh (in the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee the limit is Rs. 5,00,000/-).
• Victims of Trafficking in Human beings or beggar

Other Authorities/Institutions established to provide free legal aid to poor and weaker sections of the society are:

• Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) at Supreme Court level
• High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs) at High Court level
• State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) at State level
• District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at District level
• Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) at Taluk level

Constitutional Provisions relating to legal aid :

• Article 39A – provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of society and ensures justice for all.
• Articles 14 and 22(1) – it makes obligatory for the State to ensure equality before the law and a legal system that promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity for all.

UPSC CSE Previous Year Question (2013)

With reference to National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements:

1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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