Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Legal Assistance
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Hemant Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

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## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 472

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 16 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## Legal Assistance

472. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL: SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  process  of  appointing  lawyers  to  provide  legal  assistance  to  the  people  by  the Government;
- (b) the number of such Government appointed lawyers in the country at present;
- (c) whether the posts of such Government lawyers are vacant or there is a requirement of more lawyers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether with a view to provide justice for all, Government intends to set up free legal advice centres in every district or tehsil; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons there for?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) The National Legal Services Authority (Free and Competent Legal Services) Regulations,  2010  provides  for  criteria  and  procedure  for  empanelment  of  panel lawyers  for  providing  legal  assistance  to  the  eligible  sections  of  the  population.  The selection  of  panel  lawyers  is  made  by  the  Executive  Chairman  or  Chairman  of  the Legal Services Institution in consultation with the Attorney General [for the Supreme Court],  Advocate  General  [for  the  High  Court],  District  Attorney  or  Government

Pleader [for District and Taluka level] and the Monitoring and Mentoring Committee of the Institution.

- (b) A total number of 56,402 lawyers have been empaneled in legal services institutions at state & district level across the country for providing legal assistance to the people who are eligible to receive such assistance.
- (c)The panel lawyers are empanelled by the Legal Services Institutions as per the work load. As of now, the required number of panel lawyers are available with the Legal Services Institutions.
- (d)&(e)Legal Services Institutions have been set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987  at all levels from Taluk Courts to Supreme Court for providing free legal services to  the  persons  eligible  under  Section  12  of  the  Legal  Services  Authorities  Act, 1987.The  Legal  Services  Institutions  include  National  Legal  Services  Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee in Supreme Court,  36 State Legal Services Authorities, 36 High Court Legal Services Committees in all High Courts, 665 District Legal Services Authorities and 2288 Taluk Legal Services Committees.

Around 23,000 Legal Services Clinics have also been set up in Jails, courts, Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), community centres, villages/rural areas and law colleges/universities. In these centres, free legal services are provided.

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