Lok Sabha Question No. 772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Legal Aid Clinics Scheme
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-772

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY - 26/07/2024

## LEGAL AID CLINICS SCHEME

## 772. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  implementing  the  Legal  Aid  Clinics  scheme  across  the country, if so, the details and the status thereof;
- (b) whether the scheme has been implemented in the State of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof particularly in Bulandshahr district and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  any  specific  issues  have  been  identified  with  regard  to  factors  hindering  the effective functioning of these clinics and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether there have been any complaints regarding delays in the implementation of the scheme in the said district, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the other corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve the accessibility  and  awareness  of  the  Legal  Aid  Clinics  among  the  general  public  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) The  Regulation  3  of  the  National  Legal  Services  Authority  (Legal  Services  Clinics) Regulations, 2011 provides that subject to the financial resources available, District Legal Services Clinics can be established in;
- i. all  villages,  or  for  a  cluster  of  villages,  depending  on  the  size  of  such  villages, which shall be called the Village Legal Care and Support Centre; and
- ii. jails, educational institutions, community  centres, protection homes, Courts, juvenile justice boards and other areas, especially where the people face geographical, social and other barriers for access to the legal services institutions.

The details of the Legal Services Clinics functional across the country and number of persons provided with legal assistance during the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 are as follows:

| Years                        | 2023-24                | 2023-24                                     | 2024-25 (upto May, 2024)   | 2024-25 (upto May, 2024)                    |
|------------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Categories                   | Legal Services Clinics | Number of persons provided legal assistance | Legal Services Clinics     | Number of persons provided legal assistance |
| Law Colleges / Universities  | 1034                   | 27545                                       | 1030                       | 3677                                        |
| Villages                     | 3659                   | 234515                                      | 3899                       | 42949                                       |
| Community Centres            | 971                    | 75114                                       | 794                        | 15099                                       |
| Courts                       | 1018                   | 141539                                      | 1042                       | 28268                                       |
| Jails                        | 1215                   | 324867                                      | 1270                       | 63141                                       |
| JJB/CWC/ Observation Homes   | 479                    | 48565                                       | 509                        | 11809                                       |
| For the people of North-East | 47                     | 615                                         | 45                         | 156                                         |
| Others                       | 2961                   | 183280                                      | 2985                       | 32020                                       |
| Total                        | 11384                  | 1036040                                     | 11574                      | 197119                                      |

## (b)  The details of the Legal Services Clinics functioning in the State of Uttar Pradesh as on May, 2024 are as follows:

| Categories                   |   Number of Legal Services Clinics functioning |
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Law Colleges / Universities  |                                            155 |
| Villages                     |                                            120 |
| Community Centres            |                                             32 |
| Courts                       |                                             58 |
| Jails                        |                                             77 |
| JJB/CWC/ Observation Homes   |                                             16 |
| For the people of North-East |                                              7 |
| Others                       |                                            317 |
| Total                        |                                            782 |

Presently, Legal Aid Clinics are operational in 13 places under the District Legal Services Authority of Bulandshahar District.

- (c) & (d)  As per available inputs, no specific issue has been identified with regard to effective functioning of Legal Aid Clinics. Besides, no complaint has been received regarding delays in  implementation  of  the  scheme  in  the  said  district,  as  per  the  District  Legal  Services Authority, Bulandshahar.
- (e)    Regular  Legal  Awareness Programmes  are being organised under the aegis  of NALSA at Taluk, District, State and National Level to create awareness about the functioning of Legal Aid Clinics and the rights of the weaker and marginalized sections of the society. During the financial year 2023-24 and 2024-25 (upto May, 2024), 4,30,306 and 54,671 Legal awareness camps/programmes  were  organized  which  were  attended  by  4,49,22,092  and  49,62,765 persons respectively.

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