Lok Sabha Question No. 1745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: National Legal Service Day
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1745

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 11 th  FEBRUARY, 2022

## National Legal Service Day

## 1745. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government observed National Legal Service Day in the country;
- (b) if so, the details and objectives thereof;
- (c) the details of institutions involved in providing free legal aid to the poor in the country;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to strengthen these institutions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of mechanism to monitor the functioning of these institutions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) and  (b)  National  Legal  Services  Day  is  observed  every  year  on  9 th November  to commemorate the commencement of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into  force  on  9th  November,  1995.  On  National  Legal  Services  Day,  legal  awareness camps are held by State Legal Services Authorities across the country to apprise people about  the  availability  of  free  legal  aid.  Further,  nationwide  programmes  are  organised every  year  to  make  people  aware  of  the  various  services  provided  by  Legal  Services Authorities.

In  the  year  2021,  six-week  long  Pan  India  Legal  Awareness  and  Outreach Campaign was launched from 2 nd October to 14 th November, 2021 which included Doorto-Door  Campaigns,  Legal  Awareness  Programs,  awareness  through  Mobile  Vans  and awareness through Legal Aid Clinics. Further, 'Legal Services Week' was observed from

8 th November to 14 th November, 2021 wherein more than 38 crore persons were surveyed or interacted or made aware of their rights. On the Legal Services Day i.e., 9 th November, 2021,  a  national  level  event  was  also  organised  by  National  Legal  Services  Authority (NALSA), wherein iOS version of the Legal Services Mobile Application was launched and online portal for filing Legal Aid applications was made accessible in 10 languages. (c) The following Authorities/Institutions are established to provide free legal aid to poor and weaker sections of the society :i. National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at National level ii. Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) at Supreme Court level iii. 39 High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs) at High Court level iv. 37 State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) at State level v. 673 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at District level vi. 2465 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) at Taluk level (d) The Government extends all support to strengthen the legal services authorities/institutions in the form of Grant-in-Aid and other logistical support. In  order  to  monitor  the  performance  of  the  legal  services  authorities,  NALSA  receives Authorities  (SLSAs) highlighting  all  the  activities  carried  out  in  a  particular  month.  Apart  from  monthly activity reports, NALSA also receives Annual Reports from all the SLSAs and prepares

- (e) monthly activity reports from all the State Legal Services its own Annual Report, which is laid before both Houses of the Parliament of India.

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