LEGAL AID CLINIC

Legal Aid Clinic

The aim of the Legal Aid Clinic is to provide easy access to legal relief to the poor and backward sections of our society. These are almost on the lines of Primary Health Centres where a doctor and other supporting medical staff provide basic health care to people living in village areas affected by poverty and social squalor. Just like doctors providing health services to the people of the locality in the Primary Health Centre, the lawyer working in the Legal Aid Clinic provides legal services to the people. The emphasis is on basic legal services like legal advice and assistance in drafting notices, replies, applications, petitions etc. The lawyer operating the Legal Aid Clinic will also try to resolve disputes of the people of the locality, preventing the disputes from turning into litigation. This gives the lawyer in the Legal Aid Clinic an opportunity to understand the difficulties faced by people in remote villages in accessing justice.

What is Legal Aid

Legal Services Authorities after examining the eligibility criteria of an applicant and the existence of a prima facie case in his favour provide him counsel at State expense, pay the required Court Fee in the matter and bear all incidental expenses in connection with the case. The person to whom legal aid is provided is not called upon to spend anything on the litigation once it is supported by a Legal Services Authority.

Eligibility Criteria

Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 prescribes the criteria for giving legal services to the eligible persons. Section 12 of the Act reads as under:-
"Every person who has to file or defend a case shall be entitled to legal services under this Act 12 if that person is –
(a) a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;
(b) a victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution;
(c) a woman or a child;
(d) a mentally ill or otherwise disabled person;
(e) a person under circumstances of undeserved want such as being a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster; or
(f) an industrial workman; or
(g) in custody, including 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; or
(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); or
(h) in receipt of annual income of not more than rupees 1,50,000.

Legal Aid Activities

1. Legal Aid Counsel Scheme
2. Jail Visitor Advocates
3. Raising of Income Ceiling to avail Legal Aid Facilities
4. Competent & Quality Legal Services to the Aided Persons
5. Accreditation of Non-Governmental Organisations
6. Marriage & Family Counseling Centres
7. Free Legal Aid Centres
8. Observance of Legal Services Day

Important Links for further informations:

1. RAJASTHAN STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY    Click Here

2. NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORTIY                   Click Here