National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

Why in news?

• The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is going to establish a "legal aid" system for the poor and the marginalised in all districts on the lines of the office of public prosecutors.

About National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):

• NALSA is constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force in 1995.
• It is constituted by Central Government as per the provisions of the Act.
• It was established to create a nationwide uniform network that would provide competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society.
• The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA

Objectives of NALSA:

• Spreading Legal Awareness
• Providing free legal aid and advice
• Encouraging the settlement of disputes through Lok Adalats.
• Organizing legal aid camps, especially in rural areas, slums or labour colonies
• Encouraging the settlement of disputes by way of negotiations, arbitration and conciliation.
• Providing grants-in-aid for specific schemes to various voluntary social service institutions and the State and District Authorities

More about the Legal Services Authorities Act:

• The Act aims to constitute legal services authorities to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities
• It also aims to organize Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity
• The Act provides for constitution of legal services authorities at various levels:
  • National Level : National Legal Services Authority
  • State Level: State Legal Services Authority.
  • Every State Government shall constitute State Legal Services Authority
  • It is headed by the Chief Justice of the State High Court who is its Patron-in-Chief.
  • A serving or retired Judge of the High Court is nominated as its Executive Chairman.
  • Functions of the State Authority:
    • Conduct Lok Adalats, including Lok Adalats for High Court cases.
    • Undertake preventive and strategic legal aid programmes
    • Provide free legal aid to poor.
  • District Level: District Legal Services Authority.
  • State Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, constitute District Legal Services Authority for every District in the State
  • The District Judge of the District is its ex-officio Chairman.
• Taluka Level: Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee.
  • The State Authority may constitute Taluk Legal Services Committee, for each Taluk or for group of Taluks
  • It is headed by a senior Civil Judge.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following are the functions of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)?

1. Encouraging the settlement of disputes through Lok Adalats.

2. Providing free legal aid and advice

3. Encouraging the settlement of disputes by way of negotiations, arbitration and conciliation

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) All of the above

                          D

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