NALSA

Role of NALSA in Indian Polity

To prepare for INDIAN POLITY for any competitive exam, aspirants have to know about National Legal Services Authority – NALSA. It gives an idea of all the important topics for the IAS Exam and the polity syllabus (GS-II.). This is an essential portion of the polity. As IAS aspirants, you should be thorough with the National Legal Services Authority. In this article, you can read all about the National Legal Services Authority for the Polity and Governance segments of the UPSC syllabus. 

NALSA and the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

• NALSA issued the Vision 2020 document “Mission Access Justice to All”.
• National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is Statutory authority 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.

NALSA and Constitutional Underpinnings

• Article 14: Makes it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law.
• Article 21: Right to free legal aid or free legal service is FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
• Article 22(1): Right to consult and to be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice in case of arrest.
• Article 39A (Part IV DPSPs): of the Constitution of India provides for justice for all and free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society. (Added by 42nd CAA 1976)
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Legal aid as a human right.

Empowering the Marginalized: NALSA’s Mission for Equal Legal Access

• To realize constitutional goals, the Legal Services Authorities Act (1987) was enacted by the Parliament to establish a nationwide uniform network.
• Providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
• The 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.

NALSA’s Structure and Function

• Supreme Court Legal Services Committee: It has been constituted to administer and implement the legal services programme in so far as it relates to the SUPREME COURT.
• State Legal Services Authority: In every State have been constituted.
• High Court Legal Services Committee: In every HIGH COURT have been constituted.
• District Legal Services Authorities: In every district have been constituted
• Taluk Legal Services Committees: constituted in most of the Taluks to provide free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalat in the State.

NALSA’s Composition and Inclusive Legal Aid

• Composition: NALSA shall consist of the CJI, who shall be the Patron-in-Chief and a serving or retired Judge of the SC to be nominated by the President, in consultation with the CJI, who shall be the Executive Chairman.
• Beneficiaries: Persons eligible for free legal services includes –
  • Women and children
  • Members of SC/ST
  • Industrial workmen
  • Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
  • Differently abled persons.
  • Victims of trafficking in human beings or beggar.

NALSA’s Integral Role in Legal Aid and Social Justice Initiatives

• Spreading legal literacy and awareness through Information – Education – Communication (IEC) approach
• Undertaking social justice litigations.
• To organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
• Providing free and competent legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society.
• To promote deliverable justice on the basis of equal opportunity.
• Victim compensation.

NALSA and the Right to Legal Aid

• Article 21: of the Indian constitution, the right to free legal aid or free legal service is a fundamental right.
• Article 39A: of constitution (added through 42nd Amendment Act along with Art. 39, 43A, 48A) provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all.
• Legal aid as a human right is envisaged in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

NALSA’s Tele-Law Initiative and Access to Legal Advice

• Tele-Law is an e-governance initiative aimed to facilitate delivery of legal advice through a panel of lawyers stationed at the state Legal Services Authorities (SALSA) and Common Services Center (CSC).
• The Department of Justice has partnered with NALSA and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalized communities through CSC.
• Launched in 2017, this scheme has expanded to 115 Aspirational Districts.

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