Parliament Question: Legal Aid to Weaker Sections

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 (1)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 (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: Tamil Nadu Across the country (including Tamil Nadu) Year Legal Awareness Persons Legal Awareness Persons programs attended programs 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 (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: 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 (2)(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. ***** (3)