NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) Act 1987

• 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 society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. NALSA is located at New Delhi. Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. V. Ramana, The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
• 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 entail the provision of free legal aid in civil and criminal matters for those poor and marginalized people who cannot afford the services of a lawyer for the conduct of a case or a legal proceeding in any court, tribunal or before an authority.

Provision of free legal aid under National Legal Services Authority Act may include:

• 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.
• Rendering of any service in the conduct of any case or other legal proceeding before any court or other Authority or tribunal.
• Giving of advice on any legal matter.

Eligible persons for getting free legal services under NALSA Act

The sections of the society as enlisted under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act are entitled for free legal services, they are :

• Women and children
• Members of SC/ST
• Industrial workmen
• A victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution
• Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
• A mentally ill or otherwise disabled person
• Person in custody, including custody in a protective home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956(104 of 1956); or in a juvenile home within the meaning of clause(j) of Section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986); or in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, 1987(14 of 1987);or
• Persons whose annual income is less than Rs 9,000 or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government, if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs 12,000 or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government, if the case is before the Supreme Court.

Free Legal Services under National Legal Services Authority Act, 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 is situated at the High Court Complex in every High Court for High Court cases.
• District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in every District.

Read more about Lok Adalats and its importance