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LEGAL AID SERVICES EXPAND ALL OVER
New Delhi ~ July 18, 2001
The legal aid services to the poor and the weaker sections of the society under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 have been extended to all the States and Union Territories. With this the legal aid to the poor and the indigent has become operational at all levels -- Central, State, district and taluqa level
At the Central level the legal aid programme is monitored by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) which is headed by the Chief Justice of India.
About 34 lakh poor persons have been benefited through court-oriented legal aid programme as on December 31 2000. Of them five lakh persons belong to the Scheduled Castes 2.5 lakh persons to the Scheduled Tribes and more than 3.5 lakh beneficiaries were women. About 30 000 beneficiaries were children. During the year 2000 as many as 26 025 Lok Adalats were held wherein about 18.20 lakh cases were settled.
Providing legal aid to the poor and the weaker sections of the society is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy under the Constitution of India. The legal Services Authorities Act 1987 provides for constitution of Legal Services Authorities. These bodies have the responsibilities of providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society. These Authorities also organise Lok Adalats. This Act has put Lok Adalats on a statutory footing.
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