LEGAL AID PROVIDED BY NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
Each and every citizen who cannot afford legal representation is eligible for a free and fair legal aid under article 39(A) of Indian Constitution in which state is obliged to give free legal aid to the weaker section of society and also according to article 14 and article 22, state is obliged to promote equality for all and also promotes and propagate justice on the basis of equal opportunity for all person to the gates of justice.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 in India. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and its constituent bodies, such as the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), One of the main objectives of NALSA is to provide free legal aid and assistance to the following categories of eligible persons:
Member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe: Any person who is a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe is eligible for legal aid. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are historically marginalized communities in India who have faced discrimination and exclusion.
Victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar: Any person who is a victim of trafficking in human beings or a beggar is eligible for legal aid. These persons are often from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds and require legal assistance to protect their rights and interests. Women and children:
Women and children are eligible for legal aid irrespective of their socio-economic status. This includes women and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.
Victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster are eligible for legal aid. Industrial workman :
Industrial workman are eligible for legal aid
Persons with disability: Persons with disability who are unable to access legal services due to their disability are eligible for legal aid. This includes persons with physical, intellectual, and psychological disabilities.
Person in custody: Any person who is in custody, including those who are in prison or police custody, is eligible for legal aid.
Person in Custody includes custody in a protective home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956(104 of 1956); or in a juvenile home within the meaning of clause(j) of Section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986); or in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, 1987(14 of 1987);
A person in receipt of annual income less than the amount mentioned in the following schedule (or any other high amount as may be prescribed by the State Government), if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court and less than Rs.5 Lakh, if the case is before the Supreme Court.
The Income Ceiling Limit prescribed u/s 12 (h) Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 for availing free legal services in different States has been stated below:
S. No. States/Union Territories Income Ceiling Limit (Per Annum)
Andhra Pradesh Rs. 3,00,000/-
2. Arunachal Pradesh Rs. 1,00,000/-
3. Assam Rs. 3,00,000/-
4. Bihar Rs. 1,50,000/-
5. Chhattisgarh Rs. 1,50,000/-
6. Goa Rs.3,00,000/-
7. Gujarat Rs.1,00,000/-
8. Haryana Rs. 3,00,000/-
9. Himachal Pradesh Rs. 3,00,000/-
10. Jammu & Kashmir Rs. 1,00,000/-
11. Jharkhand Rs. 3,00,000/-
12. Karnataka Rs. 1,00,000/-
13. Kerala Rs. 3,00,000/-
14. Madhya Pradesh Rs. 1,00,000/-
15. Maharashtra Rs. 3,00,000/-
16. Manipur Rs. 3,00,000/-
17. Meghalaya Rs. 1,00,000/-
18. Mizoram Rs. 25,000/-
19. Nagaland Rs. 1,00,000/-
20. Odisha Rs.3,00,000/-
21. Punjab Rs. 3,00,000/-
22. Rajasthan Rs. 1,50,000/-
23. Sikkim Rs. 3,00,000/-
24. Telangana Rs.1,00,000/-
25. Tamil Nadu Rs. 3,00,000/-
26. Tripura Rs. 1,50,000/-
27. Uttar Pradesh Rs. 1,00,000/-
28. Uttarakhand Rs. 3,00,000/-
29. West Bengal Rs. 1,00,000/-
30. Andaman & Nicobar Islands Rs.3,00,000/-
31. Chandigarh UT Rs. 3,00,000/-
32. Dadra & Nagar Haveli UT Rs. 15,000/-
33. Daman & Diu Rs.1,00,000/-
34. Delhi
General – Rs. 1,00,000/-
Senior citizen- Rs. 2,00,000/-
Transgender – Rs. 2,00,000/-
35. Lakshadweep Rs. 9,000/-
36. Puducherry Rs. 1,00,000/-