National Legal Services Authority

National Legal Services Authority

News: The President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu recently nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second seniormost judge of the Supreme Court, as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

What is NALSA?
• The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is an institution in India that has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• Its primary objective is to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.
• The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and the Senior most Hon’ble Judge, Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the Authority.
• NALSA works in close coordination with the various State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities and other agencies for a regular exchange of relevant information, monitoring and updating on the implementation and progress of the various schemes in vogue.
• 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. A Seniormost Judge of High Court is nominated as Executive Chairman, SLSA. In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District.

Who is Eligible for Getting Free Legal Services?
• Women and children, Members of SC/ST
• Industrial workmen
• Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
• Disabled persons
• Persons in custody
• Those persons who have annual income of less than the amount prescribed by the respective State Government, if the case is before any court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 5 Lakhs, if the case is before the Supreme Court.
• Victims of Trafficking in Human beings or begar.