A fair trial is one of the most important aspects of justice. If someone is not able to hire a lawyer, how can you say that justice is being done? A lawyer must provide legal services to the poor and poor. This is the highest obligation a lawyer owes to society. Many people are not aware of their legal rights, sometimes they know their rights, but because of their vulnerable position, they cannot turn to a court. Rule 46 of Section VI of the Bar Council of India explains the duty of the lawyer to provide legal services. In each state, the State Legal Services Authority was established to implement NALSA`s policies and instructions, provide 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 competent High Court, who is the chief patron of the State Legal Services Authority. In circumstances of great public importance and serious risks to the life and liberty of the applicant, the services of senior lawyers may be used if the President of the Legal Service Body gives an opinion. On the basis of section 39A, the Legal Services Authority Act was enacted by Parliament. The word “services” used in this law indicates that it is not merely voluntary assistance, but an obligation of States to provide legal services to the poor, illiterate and ignorant. The legislation establishes the rules for the payment of panel attorneys` fees, which, according to state regulations, must be paid once the procedure is completed for them.

She suggested that fees for the different types of services offered by lawyers on the panels in mutual legal assistance cases should be reviewed on a regular basis. Under section 2(1)(a) of the Act, legal aid may be granted to a person in a “case” involving an action or proceeding before a court. Paragraph 2(1)(aaa) defines “court” as a civil, criminal or tax court and includes any court or other authority established under an Act currently in force to exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions. According to Article 2(1)(c), the term `legal service` includes the provision of a service in connection with the conduct of a case or other legal proceeding before a court or other authority or tribunal and advice on a legal question. The legal aid authorities, after examining the eligibility criteria of the applicant and the existence of prima facie evidence in his favour, provide him with legal advice at the expense of the State, pay the necessary legal costs in the case and bear all ancillary costs related to the case. The recipient of legal aid is not required to spend anything on the dispute once he is assisted by a legal service. In Khatri v. State of Bihar (AIR 1981 SC 262), the Supreme Court has ruled that the State is constitutionally obliged to grant legal aid not only at the stage of the proceedings, but also when it is first brought before the judge or detained at any time. In response to the call of His Lordship, the Honourable Justice A.S. Anand, Chief Justice of India at the first annual meeting, November 9 is celebrated annually as “Legal Services Day” by all legal services authorities.

NALSA issues press releases in almost every major newspaper in the country in English, Hindi and regional languages to inform the public about key provisions of the Legal Services Act, the important legal aid programs introduced by NALSA, and the benefits of Lok Adalats to inform people about facilities provided by legal aid authorities across the country. State legal services across the country organize Lok Adalats, legal literacy camps, and conduct an awareness campaign to raise awareness of their legal rights. Training of paralegal volunteers and their participation in the offices of legal aid institutions and village legal clinics has begun. NALSA has also directed the State Legal Service to establish legal aid cells in prisons so that prisoners can obtain prompt and effective legal aid, to which they are entitled under section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987. Hon. The Chief Justice of India, His Lordship, Justice A.S. Anand, had pointed out in the opening speech of the second annual meeting of the State Legal Services authorities in Hyderabad that a very large number of remand detainees in prison were involved in minor offences. Expressing deep concern, His Lordship said that these poor and disadvantaged prisoners have been languishing in prisons for quite some time, although they are ready to plead guilty and the final sentences that may be imposed on them will be much shorter than the period during which they are imprisoned in pre-trial detention. His Lordship suggested that the CJM/MWC of the areas where the county jails are located hold their courts once or twice a month in the prisons to deal with the cases of these persons in pre-trial detention. The proposal has already been implemented in many countries and prisoners involved in minor and minor offences will receive considerable relief. A copy of the news reported in the Hindu daily is attached.

They can also apply online by completing a legal aid application form available on the relevant websites of legal services authorities, such as NALSA, SLSA, DLSA, SCLSC, HCLSC, TLSC, etc. But the biggest obstacle is the lack of legal awareness of oppressed peoples. Legal services programs are not implemented at the local level. Following the establishment of the Central Authority and the NALSA Bureau in early 1998, the following plans and measures were considered and implemented by the Central Authority: (a) Establishment of permanent and continuous locomotive adalats in all districts of the country to resolve outstanding issues and disputes at the pre-litigation stage; b) Establishment of a separate permanent and continuous Ada locomotive for the government.