Lok Sabha Question No. 5705 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Free Legal Aid Services in Tribal and Remote Areas
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Kali Charan Singh, Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Dr. Manna Lal Rawat, Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Gajendra  Singh Patel, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Smt. Himadri Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 5705

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY - 04/04/2025

## FREE LEGAL AID SERVICES IN TRIBAL AND REMOTE AREAS

## † 5705. SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH:

DR. MANNA LAL RAWAT:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:

SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

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

- (a) the measures being taken to strengthen the Legal Aid System across the country;
- (b) whether Government has any plan to expand free legal aid services to remote and tribal areas  in  Rajasthan  and  across  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken to ensure that marginalized communities are aware of and can access these services?

## 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):  Government  has  set  up  National  Legal  Services  Authority  (NALSA)  under  the  Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society as covered under Section 12 of the Act. For this purpose, the legal services institutions have been setup from the Taluk Court level to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) functions at the Supreme Court whereas, there are 38 High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs), 37 State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), 708 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and 2439 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs). The Government extends all support to

strengthen  the  legal  services  authorities/institutions  in  the  form  of  Grants-in-Aid.  Funds under Grant-in-Aid are allocated and released to NALSA by the Government on yearly basis.

In order to monitor the performance of the legal services authorities, NALSA receives monthly activity reports from all the SLSAs highlighting all the activities carried out in a particular month. Thereafter, a final activity report on monthly basis is sent by NALSA to the  Government.  Apart  from  monthly  activity  reports,  NALSA  also  receives  Annual Reports from all the SLSAs and prepares its own Annual Report, which is laid before both Houses of the Parliament.  Further,  All  India  and  Regional  Meets  are  also  organized  by NALSA to monitor the performance of Legal Services Authorities.

The  Government  of  India  is  also  implementing  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  namely; Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme through NALSA. Under LADCS Scheme,  legal  aid  is  provided  with  regard  to  criminal  cases  only  to  the  beneficiaries eligible  for  legal  aid  under  Section  12  of  the  LSA  Act,  1987.  The  objective  of  LADCS Scheme is to strengthen criminal court based legal services, and provide legal services to the beneficiaries in all criminal matters, at trial and appellate stages. As on 31 st  December 2024,  LADC offices  are  functional  in  654  districts  across  the  country  and  has  engaged 5251 staff including 3448 Defense Counsels. During the year 2024-25 (upto December, 2024), LADCS offices dealt more than 3.95 lakh criminal cases.

- (b) and (c) Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987 ensures free legal services to the entitled persons across  the  country  including  remote  and  tribal  areas  in  Rajasthan.  Legal  awareness programmes are held across the country by Legal Service Authorities on various laws and schemes relating to children, labourers, victims of disaster, SC and ST, persons suffering from  disability,  etc.  Legal  Services  Authorities  also  prepare  booklets  and  pamphlets  in simple language on various laws and are distributed amongst the people. 12,49,496 and 1,26,966  legal  awareness  camps  and  programs  organized  by  Legal  Service  Authorities during  the  year  2022-23,  2023-24  and  2024-25  (upto  December  2024)  which  were attended by around 13.93 crore and 3.06 crore persons respectively.

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