Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the

legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall in particular, provide free
legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for
securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability. Articles
14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal
system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all. Legal aid strives to ensure
that constitutional pledge is fulfilled in its letter and spirit and equal justice is made available to
the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.

National Legal Services Authority

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services
Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to
organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

NALSA is located at New Delhi. In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been
constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal
services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. The State Legal Services Authority
is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief
of the State Legal Services Authority.

In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal
Services Programmes in the District. The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the
District Courts Complex in every District and chaired by the District Judge of the respective
district.

Free Legal Services offered by NALSA/State Authority/District Authority

 Payment of court fee, process fees and all other charges payable or incurred in connection
with any legal proceedings;
 Providing Advocate in a legal proceedings;
 Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and other documents in legal
proceedings.
 Preparation of appeal, paper book including printing and translation of documents in
legal proceedings.

Eligible persons 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.
 Person in custody
 Persons whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-
Free Legal Services can be availed from:

 Supreme Court Legal Services Committee,109, Lawyers Chambers, Supreme Court of

India, New Delhi for Supreme Court Cases.
 State Legal Services Authority
 High Court Legal Services Committee situated at High Court Complex in every High
Court for High Court cases.
 District Legal Services Authority situated in the District Courts Complex in every
District.

Lok Adalat

Lok Adalat is a forum where the disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation
stage are settled/compromised amicably. The Lok Adalat has been given statutory status under
the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award made by the Lok
Adalats is deemed to be the decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no
appeal lies before any court against its award.

Nature of cases to be referred to Lok Adalat

 Any case pending before any court

 Any dispute which has not been brought before any court and is likely to be filed before
the court

Provided that any matter relating to an offence not compoundable under the law shall not be
settled in Lok Adalat.

How to get the case referred to the Lok Adalat for settlement

A) Case pending before the court:

1. If the parties agree to settle the dispute in Lok Adalat or

2. One of the parties makes an application to the court or
3. The court is satisfied that that the matter is an appropriate one for settlement in Lok
Adalat

B. Any dispute at pre-litigative stage

The State Legal Services Authority or District Legal Services Authority as the case may be on
receipt of an application from any one of the parties to any pre-litigation stage matter refer such
matter to the Lok Adalat for amicable settlement.