National Legal Services Day

Last Updated09/11/2021

National Legal Services Day is celebrated on 9th November every year to spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
The day was first started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 to provide help and support to poor and weaker sections of the society.
Free legal services are provided in matters before Civil, Criminal and Revenue Courts, Tribunals or any other authority exercising judicial or quasi judicial functions.

Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity.
State shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.
Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all.
Legal aid strives to ensure that constitutional pledge is fulfilled in its letter and spirit and equal justice is made available to the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.
The State Legal Services Authority is headed by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority.
In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District.
The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in every District and chaired by the District Judge of the respective district.

Provide free legal aid and advice
Spread legal awareness
Organise lok adalats
Promote settlements of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms.
Various kinds of ADR mechanisms are Arbitration, Conciliation, Judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat, or Mediation
Provide compensation to victims of crime