**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 949 regarding free legal aid provided to marginalized sections under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). It details the government's efforts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh between January and September 2025, including the establishment of legal aid clinics, settlement of cases through Lok Adalats, and legal awareness programs. The response was prepared for answering on Friday, December 5, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NALSA Implementation:**
* The Government has established NALSA under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987, to provide free legal services.
* Legal services institutions are set up from the Taluk Court level to the Supreme Court.
* Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority functions through 51 District Legal Services Authorities and 174 Taluk Legal Services Committees.
* **Legal Aid Clinics and Assistance (Jan-Sept 2025):**
* Uttar Pradesh: 15,811 citizens received legal assistance through 80 legal aid clinics.
* Madhya Pradesh: 1,45,613 citizens received legal assistance through 1,189 legal aid clinics.
* **Lok Adalat Case Settlement (Jan-Sept 2025):**
* Uttar Pradesh: 3,36,21,409 cases were settled through Lok Adalats.
* Madhya Pradesh: 4,04,992 cases were settled through Lok Adalats.
* **Legal Awareness Programs (2025-26, upto Sept 2025):**
* Uttar Pradesh: 1,614 legal awareness programs were attended by 1,68,586 persons.
* Madhya Pradesh: 13,779 legal awareness programs were attended by 8,65,458 persons.
* **District-Specific Data (Katni, Panna, Chhatarpur (Khajuraho) in Madhya Pradesh):**
* Details provided for Legal Aid Clinics, beneficiaries, cases taken up, and cases settled by Lok Adalats.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Poor, Marginalized, and Weaker Sections**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries receive free and competent legal services, leading to access to justice.
Awareness programs educate them about their rights and available legal resources.
**Action Required**
Engage with legal aid clinics, Lok Adalats, and legal awareness programs to seek assistance and information.
**Stakeholder: Legal Services Institutions (NALSA, State and District Authorities)**
**Impact**
These institutions are responsible for implementing and facilitating the provision of legal aid services.
**Action Required**
Continue to provide and expand legal aid services, conduct legal awareness programs, and ensure effective case resolution through Lok Adalats.
Key Entities Referenced
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA): Statutory body established to provide free legal services to weaker sections of society.
Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987: Act establishing NALSA and providing for legal aid services.
Madhya Pradesh: State specifically mentioned as a focus area for legal aid provisions.
Lok Adalats: Alternative dispute resolution mechanism used for settling cases, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Ministry of Law and Justice: Union ministry responsible for legal affairs and administration of justice.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 949
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY – 05.12.2025
FREE LEGAL AID TO MARGINALISED SECTIONS
949. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:
SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is providing free legal aid to the poor, marginalised and weaker
sections under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), especially in Madhya
Pradesh;
(b) if so, whether any legal aid clinics, Lok Adalats or outreach programmes have been
operationalized in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh especially in the districts of Katni,
Panna and the town of Khajuraho under this scheme;
(c) if so, the details of the number of cases resolved, beneficiaries reached and legal matters
addressed; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps being taken to ensure availability of free legal
services in these areas?
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
poor, marginalised and weaker sections of the society as covered under Section 12 of the
LSA Act including the State of Madhya Pradesh. For this purpose, the legal services
institutions have been setup from the Taluk Court level to the Supreme Court. Madhya
Pradesh State Legal Services Authority function through 51 District Legal Services
Authorities and 174 Taluk Legal Services Committees.
1(b) to (d) : During January 2025 to September 2025, 15,811 citizens were provided legal
assistance through 80 operational Legal Aid Clinics in the State of Uttar Pradesh. During
the same period, 1,45,613 citizens were provided legal assistance through 1,189 Legal
Aid Clinics in the State of Madhya Pradesh. During January 2025 to September 2025,
3,36,21,409 cases were settled through Lok Adalats in the State of Uttar Pradesh and
4,04,992 cases were settled in the State of Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh State Legal
Services Authority and Madhya Pradesh State Legal Service Authority organised 1,614
and 13,779 Legal Awareness Programmes which were attended by 1,68,586 and 8,65,458
persons respectively during the period 2025-26 (upto September, 2025).
The details of functional Legal Aid Clinics, number of persons benefitted and details
of cases taken up and settled by Lok Adalats in the districts of Katni, Panna and
Chhatarpur (Khajuraho) of Madhya Pradesh during January 2025 to September 2025, are
as follows: -
Number of Legal Aid Clinics and Beneficiaries
District Legal Aid Clinics No. of Beneficiaries
Katni 13 167
Panna 9 55
Chhatarpur (Khajuraho) 1 -
Number of cases taken up and settled by Lok Adalats
District Pre-Litigation cases Pending Cases Total
Taken up Settled Taken up Settled Taken up Settled
Katni 15,493 10,731 4,157 1,848 19,650 12,579
Panna 28,552 968 1,955 621 30,507 1,589
Chhatarpur
209 138 134 123 343 261
(Khajuraho)
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