Lok Sabha Question No. 2100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Legal Aid to Weaker Sections
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri C N Annadurai

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2100 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY - 01/08/2025

## LEGAL AID TO WEAKER SECTIONS

## 2100. SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

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

- (a) the details of the authorities and institutions established by the Government to provide free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of society, particularly members of SC, ST, women, and other marginalized communities, including the current status in Tamil Nadu;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken awareness initiatives to inform the poor and weaker sections, especially SCs and STs, about their entitlement to free legal aid, and if so, the details thereof including outreach activities conducted in Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the  number  of  cases  taken  up  and  legal  aid  provided  by  the  National  Legal  Services Authority (NALSA) during last three years; and
- (d) whether  Government  has  put  in  place  a  mechanism  to  monitor  and  assess  the performance and functioning of Legal Services Authorities including NALSA, and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to strengthen the delivery of free legal aid across the Country, particularly in Tamil Nadu?

## 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 following Authorities/Institutions are established to provide free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society including those belonging to SC/ST and women:-
- i. National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at National level

- ii. Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) at Supreme Court level
- iii. 38 High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs) at High Court level
- iv. 37 State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) at State level
- v. 708  (including  32  in  Tamil  Nadu)  District  Legal  Services  Authorities  (DLSAs)  at District level
- vi. 2440  (including  193  in  Tamil  Nadu)  Taluk  Legal  Services  Committees  (TLSCs)  at Taluk level
6. (b): The legal awareness programmes are held across the country by Legal Service Authorities in regard to entitlement to free legal aid and various laws and schemes relating to children, labourers, victims of disaster, SC and ST, persons suffering from disability, etc. The Legal Services Authorities also prepare booklets and pamphlets in simple language on various laws, for distribution amongst the people. The details of legal awareness camps/programs organized by Legal Service Authorities across the country (including Tamil Nadu) during the last three years are as under:
7. (c):  The details of persons benefited through Legal aid and advice under various activities/programmes undertaken by Legal Services Authorities during the last three years are as under:

|         | Tamil Nadu               | Tamil Nadu       | Across the country (including Tamil Nadu)   | Across the country (including Tamil Nadu)   |
|---------|--------------------------|------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Year    | Legal Awareness programs | Persons attended | Legal Awareness programs                    | Persons attended                            |
| 2022-23 | 10,814                   | 13,27,379        | 4,90,055                                    | 6,75,17,665                                 |
| 2023-24 | 4,408                    | 7,12,534         | 4,30,306                                    | 4,49,22,092                                 |
| 2024-25 | 6,284                    | 10,10,195        | 4,62,988                                    | 3,72,32,850                                 |
| Total   | 21,506                   | 30,50,108        | 13,83,349                                   | 14,96,72,607                                |

| Year    | Persons benefited through Legal aid and advice   |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2022-23 | 12,14,769                                        |
| 2023-24 | 15,50,164                                        |
| 2024-25 | 16,57,527                                        |
| Total   | 44,22,460                                        |

- (d):  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  which  is  reviewed  and  compiled.  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 by the Government.

Periodical reviews on different issues are also carried out by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice to assess the working of Legal Aid under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Further, All India Meets and Regional Meets are frequently organized by NALSA to monitor the performance  of  Legal  Services  Authorities.  In  addition,  regular  meetings  are  also  held between the representatives of NALSA and Department of Justice on various important matters.

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