Free legal aid is a fundamental component of access to justice. It is provided under Article 39A of the Constitution and operationalized through the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Persons Entitled to Free Legal Aid (Section 12, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987)
Persons with Annual Income below prescribed limit
Women and Children
Members of SC/ST Communities
Victims of Human Trafficking or Begar
Persons with Disabilities
Industrial Workmen
Persons in Custody – including undertrials, detainees, and prisoners
Victims of Mass Disaster, Ethnic Violence, Flood, Drought, or Industrial Accidents
Role of NALSA in Rendering Free Legal Aid
Institutional Framework-
NALSA is headed by the Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief.
Supervises State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), and Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs).
Legal Awareness-Conducts Lok Adalats, Legal Literacy Camps, and Legal Aid Clinics in rural and marginalized areas.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)- Organizes Lok Adalats for speedy, low-cost dispute resolution. Eg- National Lok Adalat (2023) settled over 1.3 crore cases across India.
Specialized Schemes for Vulnerable Groups- Eg- NALSA (Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights) Scheme, 2015.
Free Legal Representation and Counsel to represent eligible persons in courts and tribunals.
Legal Aid in Prisons for undertrials through regular jail legal aid clinics.
Use of Technology- Launched E-Lok Adalat for digital access to justice in remote areas.
Challenges
Low Awareness – As per India Justice Report, despite over 80% of citizens eligible, only 15 million have availed legal aid since 1995.
Shortage of Trained Lawyers – avoid pro bono work due to
Implementation Gaps- Uneven performance across states and districts.
Way Forward
Increase Grant-in-Aid and resource allocation to NALSA.
Launch awareness campaigns via radio, TV, and local media.
Fair compensation and incentives for panel lawyers and PLVs.
Mandatory annual pro bono work for advocates with merit-based recognition.
Free legal aid is essential to realize the constitutional promise of âjustice-social, economic, and political.â