National Legal Services Day(NLSD) is annually observed across India on 9th of November.
- 09th November 2023 marks the 29th National Legal Services Day.
Theme:
The theme of National Legal Services Day 2023 is ‘Access to Justice for All: Empowering the Marginalised through Legal Awareness’.
- The theme emphasizes the importance of providing equal access to legal resources and knowledge, especially to those who are underprivileged and marginalized.
Background:
i.Legal Services Authorities Act was passed on October 1987 under Article 39A of the Indian Constitution.
ii.In 1995, the Supreme Court (SC) of India declared NLSD to commemorate the enactment of the act.
iii.The first ever NLSD was celebrated on 09th November 1995.
Significance:
i.This day highlights the Government of India’s commitment to providing free legal services to its most vulnerable citizens.
ii.The day aims to ensure that access to legal aid is not a privilege but a fundamental right.
iii.The day also makes sure that justice reaches every corner of the country, primarily targeting the weaker sections of society such as women, disabled individuals, Scheduled Tribes(ST), children, Scheduled Castes(SC), victims of human trafficking, and those affected by natural calamities.
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):
NALSA, was constituted on 5th December, 1995 for making legal services available under the National Legal Services Act.
Functions:
i.It monitors and evaluates the implementation of legal aid programs (in National Level) by laying down policies, principles, guidelines, and framing effective and economical schemes.
ii.NALSA also conducts legal literacy programs along with the State Legal Services Authorities.
iii.To organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes
Free Legal Aid Till financial year 2022-23:
Apart from NALSA, the following Authorities/Institutions are established to provide free legal aid to poor and weaker sections of the society such as
- Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) at Supreme Court level
- 39 High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs) at High Court level
- 37 State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) at State level
- 703 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at District level
- 2341 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) at Taluk level
About National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):
Patron-in-Chief– Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud (Chief Justice of India)
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1995
