Lok Sabha Question No. 2597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Free Legal Aid to Poor
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2597 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2023

## FREE LEGAL AID TO POOR

## 2597. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

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

- (a) the details of authorities/institutions involved in providing free legal aid to the poor in the country;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  these  authorities/institutions  including the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  by  these  authorities/institutions including NALSA during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has any mechanism to monitor the functioning/performance of these  authorities/institutions  including  NALSA  and  if  so,  details  thereof  and  the  other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  also  launched  Nyaya  Bandhu  (Pro  bono  Legal  Services) programme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the number of pro bono advocates and beneficiaries registered thereunder?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) 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. 703 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at District level
- vi. 2341 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) at Taluk level
- (b) and (c) 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. During the last 3 years i.e. 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23, grants-in-aid of Rs. 100 crore, Rs. 145 crore and  Rs.  190  crore  respectively  have  been  allocated/released  by  the  Government  to NALSA  for  various  legal  aid  activities  like  free  legal  assistance,  Lok  Adalats,  legal awareness programmes across the country etc. For the current year i.e. 2023-24, grantsin-aid of Rs. 200 crore have been allocated to NALSA out of which Rs. 50 crore have been  released  so  far  by  the  Government.The  details  of  funds  allocated  by  NALSA  to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during last three years and the current year are at Annexure - A.
- (d) In  order  to  monitor  the  performance  of  the  legal  services  authorities,  NALSA  receives monthly activity reports from all the State Legal Services Authorities  (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.

Periodical  reviews  on  different  issues  are  also  carried  out  by  the  Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committeeon 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.

- (e) and  (f)  Yes  Sir.  The  Government  launched  Nyaya  Bandhu  (Pro-bono  Legal  Services) with the primary aim of advancing the culture of pro bono and creating a framework for dispensation of offering pro bono legal services across the country. It links the persons eligible to avail free legal aid under Section 12 of Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 with the pro-bono lawyers. Under the programme, practicing advocates, interested in undertaking legal pro bono work, are connected, via mobile application, with eligible marginalised beneficiaries, for delivery of pro bono (free of charge) legal services. As on 30 th June,  2023  there  are  total  10231  advocates  registered  and  1870  beneficiaries registered on the Nyaya Bandhu mobile application for availing the service of a Pro Bono lawyer.

****

Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2597 for answering on 04.08.2023 raised by Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe and others, MPs - Free Legal Aid to Poor

| Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   | Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   | Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   | Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   | Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   | Statement showing details of funds allocated (in Rupees) to Legal Services Authorities for organizing legal aid programmes during the last three years and the current year   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No .                                                                                                                                                                        | Name of State/UT Authority                                                                                                                                                    | 2020-21                                                                                                                                                                       | 2021-22                                                                                                                                                                       | 2022-23                                                                                                                                                                       | 2023-24 (upto 12.07.2023)                                                                                                                                                     |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                             | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                                                                                             | 15,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                             | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                | 3,40,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 5,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 4,65,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                             | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                             | 1,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 1,40,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 5,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 1,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                             | Assam                                                                                                                                                                         | 3,70,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 6,40,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,40,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                             | Bihar                                                                                                                                                                         | 3,70,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,60,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 9,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 1,75,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                             | Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                    | 80,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 55,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 60,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                             | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                                                  | 3,95,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 5,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 6,65,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                             | Dadra and Nagar Haveli                                                                                                                                                        | 2,50,000                                                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                                                             | 10,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                             | Daman and Diu                                                                                                                                                                 | 2,50,000                                                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                                                                                             | 5,00,000                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                            | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                         | 5,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 9,30,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 12,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                            | Goa                                                                                                                                                                           | 50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 15,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 45,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     | 25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                            | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                       | 3,45,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 5,75,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 8,80,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                            | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                       | 4,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 6,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,60,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 1,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                            | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                              | 1,85,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,45,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 3,90,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 1,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                            | Jammu and Kashmir                                                                                                                                                             | 3,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 4,65,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 6,60,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                            | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                                     | 4,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,35,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 17                                                                                                                                                                            | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                     | 6,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 7,50,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 9,20,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 2,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 18                                                                                                                                                                            | Kerala                                                                                                                                                                        | 5,25,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 9,90,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 8,00,00,000                                                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                                                             |

| 19   | Ladakh                                       | 0              | 65,00,000      | 45,00,000      | 10,00,000   |
|------|----------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
| 20   | Lakshadweep                                  | 0              | 0              | 5,00,000       | 0           |
| 21   | Madhya Pradesh                               | 3,00,00,000    | 5,00,00,000    | 7,40,00,000    | 2,50,00,000 |
| 22   | Maharashtra                                  | 6,25,00,000    | 8,25,00,000    | 9,60,00,000    | 0           |
| 23   | Manipur                                      | 1,00,00,000    | 1,05,00,000    | 1,90,00,000    | 50,00,000   |
| 24   | Meghalaya                                    | 50,00,000      | 50,00,000      | 2,60,00,000    | 0           |
| 25   | Mizoram                                      | 50,00,000      | 1,15,00,000    | 2,15,00,000    | 35,00,000   |
| 26   | Nagaland                                     | 50,00,000      | 1,15,00,000    | 2,75,00,000    | 0           |
| 27   | Odisha                                       | 3,25,00,000    | 4,25,00,000    | 7,60,00,000    | 1,50,00,000 |
| 28   | Puducherry                                   | 10,00,000      | 20,00,000      | 92,00,000      | 0           |
| 29   | Punjab                                       | 3,25,00,000    | 6,40,00,000    | 6,16,00,000    | 1,75,00,000 |
| 30   | Rajasthan                                    | 4,55,00,000    | 7,00,00,000    | 8,40,00,000    | 1,75,00,000 |
| 31   | Sikkim                                       | 50,00,000      | 65,00,000      | 1,65,00,000    | 30,00,000   |
| 32   | Tamil Nadu                                   | 4,20,00,000    | 6,00,00,000    | 8,10,00,000    | 2,00,00,000 |
| 33   | Telangana                                    | 3,50,00,000    | 4,10,00,000    | 5,05,00,000    | 2,00,00,000 |
| 34   | Tripura                                      | 2,80,00,000    | 2,65,00,000    | 3,40,00,000    | 75,00,000   |
| 35   | Uttar Pradesh                                | 6,50,00,000    | 6,00,00,000    | 11,80,00,000   | 2,50,00,000 |
| 36   | Uttarakhand                                  | 2,50,00,000    | 2,55,00,000    | 3,55,00,000    | 75,00,000   |
| 37   | West Bengal                                  | 5,20,00,000    | 7,00,00,000    | 8,80,00,000    | 1,75,00,000 |
| 38   | Supreme Court Legal Services Committee       | 1,00,00,000    | 1,00,00,000    | 90,00,000      | 0           |
| 39   | Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee | 0              | 0              | 1,25,00,000    | 0           |
|      | Total                                        | 1,00,00,00,000 | 1,45,30,00,000 | 1,92,08,00,000 | 37,05,00,00 |