Lok Sabha Question No. 3264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Government Counsels
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav, Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3264

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 17 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## GOVERNMENT COUNSELS

3264. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) the procedure laid down by the Government for appointing Government Counsel for providing legal assistance to the people;
- (b) the number of Government Counsels in the country at present;
- (c)  whether  the  posts  of  Government  Counsels  are  vacant  or  there  is  a  need  to appoint more Government Counsels, if so, the details thereof ;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up a centre to solve cases with mutual consent along with providing free of cost legal assistance in every district or tehsil for dispensation of justice to all; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (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 India  [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. However the Executive Chairman or Chairman  of  Legal  Services  Institution  can  also  suo  motu  empanel  a  Legal practitioner. (b) A  total  number  of  50,168  lawyers  have  been  empanelled  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) There  are  no  specific  number  of  posts  for  appointment  of  panel  lawyers  for providing  legal  assistance  as  panel  lawyers  are  not  on  regular  roll  of  Legal Services  Authorities.  The  number  of  lawyers  empanelled  depends  upon  the number of legal aid cases, legal service activities and other ancillary works. As of now, the required number of panel lawyers  is already  available  with  the  Legal Services Institutions. (d) and  (e)  Legal  Services  Institutions  have  set  up  Mediation  Centers  for  mutual settlement of disputes (pending as well as at pre-litigation stage). Mediation has emerged  as  a  popular  and  useful  method  for  settlement  of  disputes.  As  on 31.10.2021,  572  Mediation  Centers  have  been  set  up  throughout  the  country. During  the  year  2020-21,  more  than  28,000  cases  have  been  settled  through mediation amicably. During 2021-22, more than 21,000 cases have been settled
- till October 2021.

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