Query: Role of Legal Services Authorities in Access to Justice - Examples, Advice. Reply by 25 January 2012
Moderator’s Note: Dear Members, We wish you and your loved ones a very HAPPY and SUCCESSFUL 2012. In the New Year, there could not have been a better beginning to Gender Community’s (GEN CoP) work. We are starting with our FIRST QUERY of 2012. It has come from Mr. U Sarathchandran, Member Secretary, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). NALSA has never previously engaged with the GEN CoP; hence, we thank Mr. Sarathchandran for considering making use of the Gender e-knowledge platform. We hope members would actively contribute to this first query of the year, which requests specific inputs on how the Legal Services Authorities in India can help women and other marginalized groups to access justice better. Have a Great Week Ahead; Greetings, Malika.
Dear Members,
The National Legal Services Authority (http://nalsa.gov.in/) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society including legal advice, legal counselling, legal aid for filing and/or arguing matters in the courts, court fees etc. NALSA also organizes Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes in variety of matters including matrimonial disputes for maintenance, custody, divorce, motor vehicles accident claims, property disputes etc.
In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA, Legal Services Authorities exist at the district level as well; along with Legal Services Committees at the Supreme Court, High Courts, and the taluka levels.
The Legal Services Authorities are mandated, among other things, to conduct lok adalats, hold legal awareness camps in the community, and provide legal aid to women, children, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and others who fall under the criteria provided in section 12 of the LSA Act (http://nalsa.gov.in/actrules.html)
In view of the above mandated role of the Legal Services Authorities at various levels, NALSA as the apex body would like to invite members of the Gender Community to respond to the following questions:
- Are women aware of the provision of free legal aid through the Legal Services Authorities?
- Do they face any challenges in accessing free legal aid? If yes, what are these?
- Do the legal awareness camps organised by Legal Services Authorities cover women’s legal rights?
In addition, I request members to list three key things that the Legal Services Authorities can do to help women and other marginalized groups to access justice better?
Members’ responses through this discussion can help NALSA improve the people’s knowledge of and access to legal services authorities as well as help NALSA draft appropriate policies or guidelines in this regard.
I look forward to your responses.
Thank you.
U Sarathchandran
Member Secretary
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
New Delhi
