Context:
Department of Justice has recently declared the nomination of Supreme Court Judge, Justice BR Gavai, to be the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC).
Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC):
- Constituted by – National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- Constituted under – Section 3A of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted in 1995 to monitor and evaluate the implementation of legal aid programmes and to lay down policies for making them available.
Legal Services Authorities Act was constituted in 1987 to give a statutory base to legal aid programmes and to provide free and competent legal services to eligible groups including women, children, SC/ST and EWS categories, industrial workers, disabled persons, and others.
- Objective – To provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society, in cases falling under the top court’s jurisdiction.
- Selection criteria – Under Section 27 of the 1987 Act, the Centre is empowered to make rules in consultation with the CJI.
- Composition – Chairman (sitting SC judge) + 9 members [present status]
- Ex-officio Patron-in-Chief of SCLSC – Chief Justice of India (CJI)
- Appointment –
- Chairman and members of SCLSC nominated by CJI
- Secretary to the Committee appointed by CJI
- Powers of the Committee – Can appoint officers and other employees as prescribed by the Centre, in consultation with the CJI.
Free Legal Aid in India:
- Article 39A – The State is obligated to ensure that the legal system advances justice, based on equal opportunity, and specifically, to provide free legal aid.
- Article 14 – It embodies the right to equality and mandates the state to guarantee equality before the law.
- Article 22(1) – It encompasses the rights to be informed of the reasons for arrest, making it compulsory for the State to ensure a legal system that fosters justice based on equal opportunity.
The Committee for Implementing Legal Aid Schemes chaired by the then SC Justice PN Bhagwati started monitoring legal aid activities throughout India, thereby conceptualised the free legal aid in India.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?
1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 4 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
There is no such provision of free legal aid specifically for OBC. The free Legal Aid is not available for free for all senior citizens.
