Article 39 A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all. In the year 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came into force on 9th November, 1995 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) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes. Legal services Institutions have been set up at all level from Taluk Courts to the Supreme Court. Apart from these legal services institutions, High Court Legal Services Committees have been constituted at all High Courts and the Supreme Courts Legal Services Committee at the Supreme Court level to provide free legal services to the persons eligible under section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
The free Legal Aid Services include;
(a) Payment of court fee, process fees and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal proceedings;
(b) Providing service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
(c) Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and another documents in legal Proceedings; and
(d) Preparation of appeal paper book including printing and translation of document ts in legal proceedings.
Receipts of requests in this regard is a continuous process. These are received very often and the same are forwarded to NALSA for taking up the matter with the concerned State Legal Services Institutions for appropriate action. NALSA closely monitors the action on such requests. Social organizations are also involved in various awareness and out reach programmes conducted by the State Authorities.
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