7 Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

Dr. Bharti Yadav

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Introduction:

 

Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted to constitute legal services authorities for providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice were not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organize Lok Adalats to ensure that the operation of the legal system promoted justice on a basis of equal opportunity. The interpretation of this Act in the light of its object reveals that it is a very good legislation for the amicable and speedy disposal of disputes.

 

The Act extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. For the proper implementation of the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 various authorities have been created at national, state, district and taluka level. These authorities have also been established at the level of Supreme Court and High Court.

 

 

National Legal Services Authority is the apex authority for providing legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

 

Its composition makes it clear that people who are not from legal background have also been given an opportunity to be a part of this authority. When task is of amicable settlement of disputes by mediation or conciliation, then people with social background can be more efficiently. The tenure of its members is not very long. This provision also puts the check on the monopoly of few people in exercising power under this Act.

 

There are sufficient provisions for funds to implement the provisions of this Act. These provisions also provide very strict check against the misuse of the fund by proper maintaining of accounts and auditing of these accounts at regular interval of time. Such provisions eliminate the chance of the corruption in National Legal Services Authority.

 

Functions:

 

To lay down policies and principles for making legal services available under the provisions of the Act;

 

To frame the most effective and economical schemes for the purpose of making legal services available under the provisions of this Act;

 

To utilize the funds at its disposal and make appropriate allocations of funds to the State Authorities and District Authorities;

 

To take necessary steps by way of social justice litigation with regard to consumer protection, environmental protection or any other matter of special concern to the weaker sections of the society and for this purpose, give training to social workers in legal skills;

 

To organize legal aid camps, especially in rural area, slums or labour colonies with the dual propose of educating the weaker sections of the society as to their rights as well as encouraging the settlement of disputes through Lok Adalats,

 

To encourage the settlement of disputes by way of negotiations, arbitration and conciliation;

 

To undertake and promote research in the field of legal services with special reference to the need for such services among the poor;

 

To do all things necessary for the purpose of ensuring commitment to the fundamental duties of citizens under Part IV-A of the Constitution;

 

To monitor and evaluate implementation of the legal aid programmes at periodic intervals

 

To provide grants-in-aid for specific schemes to various voluntary social service institutions

 

To take appropriate measures for spreading legal literacy and legal awareness amongst the people and, in particular, to educate weaker sections of the society.

 

To make special efforts to enlist the support of voluntary social welfare institutions working at the grass-root level,

 

Monitor the functioning of State Authorities, District Authorities, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, High Court Legal Services Committees, Taluk Legal Services Committees and voluntary social services institutions and other legal services organizations

 

To give general directions for the proper implementation of the legal services programmes

 

The functions of the authority are very wide to cover all possible acts necessary for the achievement of the object of this Act. The only need is to implement these provisions with sincerity and honesty.

 

Supreme Court Legal Services Committee

 

The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee imparts the facilities provided under this Act to the parties whose dispute is pending before the Supreme Court. Like National Legal Services Authority, it also contains the provision for the appointment of persons from non-legal background which is good for the amicable settlement of disputes. People whose disputes are pending before the Supreme Court can comfortably take the benefit of the services of this authority as they will not have to go to any other place to take the provided benefits. As this Authority is specially designed to provide benefit under this Act to disputes pending before the Supreme Court, it can perform this work more efficiently. Provisions like short tenure and check on the use of funds by regular auditing of the accounts prevent the chances of misuse of power provided under this Act.Power and Function of Supreme Court Legal Services Authority:

  • It shall have powers and functions to administer and implement the legal services programme in so far as it relates to the Supreme Court of India
  • For this purpose it can take all such steps as may be necessary and to act in accordance with the directions issued by the Central Authority from time to time;
  • To receive and scrutinize applications for legal services and to decide all questions as to the grant of or withdrawal of legal service;
  • To maintain panels of advocates on record and of senior advocates in the Supreme Court for giving the legal advice;
  • To decide all matters relating to payment of honorarium, costs, charges and expenses of legal services to the advocates on record and to senior advocates of the Supreme Court;
  • To prepare and submit returns, reports and statistical information in regard to the legal services programme to the Central Authority.

 

State Legal Services Authority

 

It is not possible for the National Legal Services Authority to implement the provisions of this Act without the assistance of other subsidiary authorities. So every State is bound to constitute State Legal Services Authority in its territory.

 

 

Representation of all the departments engaged in the task of maintaining peace and harmony in Legal Services Authority enhances the chances of settlement of disputes amicably and speedily. That is why it consist of members from bench, bar, police department, legislative department, law colleges and social workers.

 

The short tenure of the members of the committee puts check on the monopoly of few members on the exercise of the powers granted under this Act. The mandate of maintaining proper accounts and its auditing at regular intervals eliminates the chances of misuse of funds by its members.

 

The State Legal Services Authorities coordinate the working of the other subsidiary authorities at district level and give its report to the National Legal Services Authority. It also gives the directions given by National Legal Services Authority to District Legal Services Authority. That is way it acts as a managing link between District Legal Services Authorities and National Legal Services Authority.

 

High Court Legal Services Authority

 

The High Court Legal Services Authority provides for the free legal aid and amicable settlement of disputes pending before the High Court. It also provides for the speedy disposal of disputes through Lok Adalat.

 

Composition:

 

(i) A sitting Judge of the High Court who shall be the Chairman;

 

(ii) Such number of other members possessing such experience and qualifications as may be determined by regulations made by the State Authority, to be nominated by the Chief Justice of the High Court.

 

Like National and State Legal Services Authority, it also provides for the appointment of members from the bench, bar and the social action groups. Involvement of members from non-legal background is essential for the mediation and conciliation. Members of this committee are bound to maintain the accounts of the funds received and expenditure incurred on the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

 

A dispute comes before the high court when parties to it were not satisfied from the session’s court decision. This type of dispute has covered the long journey of the litigation before the courts and it is in the interest of justice that there should be an end to litigation. So in such type of disputes, mediation and conciliation becomes very essential to put an end to it.

 

District Legal Services Authority The District Legal Services Authority works at the district level.

 

 

Like other legal services authority, it also provides for the appointment of people from bench, bar, social groups etc. which is good for understanding the grievance of disputing parties and convincing them to settle the disputes amicably through Lok Adalat. It is bound to do the functions assigned to it by State Legal Services Authority. Provisions like small tenure of the members and the maintenance of accounts prevent the chances of malpractices in the legal services authority.

 

The Taluka Legal services Authority works at the grass root level and many times it happens that due to ignorance of their rights or poverty people fail to make proper legal representation in their case which leads to injustice. So it is in the interest of justice that needy people should get the free legal assistance at the grass root level. Taluka Legal Services Authority provides free legal aid at this important level. It is a useful mechanism to end the dispute at the initial stage which will save the parties from harassment of long proceeding and at the same time it will reduce the burden the courts.

 

Entitlement to Free Legal Aid

 

Inadequate representation of case before the court due to lack of legal assistance is a very big reason for injustice and delayed justice. Providing free legal aid to those people who can’t afford the legal assistance in the eyes of the law as mentioned under section 12 of the Act is a positive step towards imparting of justice on equitable basis.

 

People entitled to free legal services:

  • A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
  • A victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred in article 23 of the Constitution;
  • A woman or a child;
  • A person with disability as defined in clause (i) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996)
  • 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;
  • An industrial workman; or in custody, including custody in a protective home within the meaning of clause (g) of section 2 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956, or in a Juvenile home within the meaning of clause (j) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 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;
  • In receipt of annual income less than rupees nine thousand or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government, If the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court, and less than rupees twelve thousand or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government, if the case is before the Supreme Court.1

 

In Supreme Court a person whose annual income from all sources does not exceed Rs.50,000 (Rupees fifty thousand) per annum shall be entitled to legal services if the case is before the Supreme Court.2

 

Persons who satisfy any of the criteria specified in section 12 shall be entitled to receive legal services provided that the concerned Authority is satisfied that such person has a prima-facie case to prosecute or to defend. An affidavit made by a person as to his income may be regarded as sufficient for making him eligible to the entitlement of legal services under this Act unless the concerned Authority has reason to disbelieve such affidavit.3

 

SUPREME COURT MIDDLE INCOME GROUP LEGAL AID SCHEME

 

Need was felt to provide free legal aid to middle income group before Supreme Court, so the “SUPREME COURT MIDDLE INCOME GROUP LEGAL AID SCHEME” was enacted. It has two folded benefits. Firstly, it eliminates the chances of misrepresentation of the income by middle income group to get the benefit of free legal aid in Supreme Court as now it is available to them also. Secondly it was realised that now-a-days basic necessities of life has become so costly that middle income groups hardly remain with any part of income after fulfilling basic need to invest in their fight for justice. The criteria of providing the free legal aid and regulation of proceeding under free legal representation is such that it entitles only those people who actually comes under the middle income group as defined by the scheme.

 

There are adequate provisions to prevent the advocate-on-record from doing its assigned work inefficiently. It has also specifically provided the remuneration of advocate-on-record which eliminates the chances of any dispute regarding the remuneration to be paid under this scheme.

 

Lok Adalats

 

One of the objects of the Legal Services Authorities Act is to settle the disputes speedily through Lok Adalat. Indian Courts are overburdened with work and it takes years to settle the disputes before the formal courts. As we know that justice delayed is justice denied so need was felt for the constitution of alternate dispute mechanism to settle the disputes speedily without following the technicality of formal procedure. The Lok Adalat is recognized as one of the alternate dispute resolution mechanism capable of settling the dispute speedily, cheaply and amicably. All the legal services authorities can organize Lok Adalats at such intervals and places and for exercising such jurisdiction and for such areas as it thinks fit.

 

A person shall not be qualified to be included in the Lok Adalat unless he is a member of the legal profession or a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes or An eminent social worker who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, children, rural and urban labour.

 

As its bench, consisting of members from legal and non-legal background, so it is in a better position to understand the dispute of the parties and convincing them to arrive at a settlement or compromise. Experience of members from legal background helps in understanding the fate of the case in the eyes of law and the experience of the members from non-legal background helps in conciliation of parties to settle the dispute amicably before the Lok Adalat.

 

The scope of Lok Adalat is very wide to include most of the cases pending in the court and about to come before the court for settlement. The Lok Adalat have no jurisdiction in respect of any case or matter relating to an offence not compoundable under any law. The Authority or Committee organizing the Lok Adalat may on receipt of an application from any one of the parties to matter referred above refer such matter to the Lok Adalat for determination. No matter is referred to the Lok Adalat except after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the other party. When any case is referred to a Lok Adalat, the Lok Adalat proceeds to dispose of the case or matter and arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties.

 

Every Lok Adalat, while determining any reference before it acts with utmost expedition to arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties. It is provided that where no award is made by the Lok Adalat on the ground that no compromise or settlement could be arrived at between the parties, the record of the case is returned by it to the court, from which the reference has been received for disposal in accordance with law. The parties shall be advised to seek remedy in the court. Where the record of the case is returned to the court, such court shall proceed to deal with such case from the stage which was reached before such reference.

 

It is also an accepted fact that justice hurried is justice buried. In order to save the time it need not to follow the formal procedure but is bound to follow the principle of natural justice so that both the parties to dispute get an opportunity of fair representation. None of the parties can be forced to compromise before the Lok Adalat if the terms of settlement fail to convince them.

 

The award of Lok Adalat is final and binding on the parties. The provision of finality of award is a good provision to put an end to the litigation which is in the interest of justice. Powers provided to Lok Adalat are sufficient to impart justice without compromising on its quality. Its award is given the status of a decree, its proceeding is deemed to be judicial proceeding. It is given the status of civil court having all the power of summoning, requisition, discovery and receiving of evidence on affidavit. On the top of all this it has the power to specify its own procedure.

 

The hon’ble supreme court in the case of P.T. Thomas v. Thomas Job4 elaborately explained the meaning and benefits of Lok Adalat as follows:

  • The “Lok Adalat” is an old form of adjudicating system prevailed in ancient India
  • Its validity has not been taken away even in the modern days too.
  • The word ‘Lok Adalat’ means ‘People Court’.
  • This system is based on Gandhian Principles.
  • It is one of the components of Alternative Dispute Resolution System.
  • As the Indian Courts are overburdened with the backlog of cases and involve a lengthy, expensive and tedious procedure.
  • The Court takes years together to settle even petty cases.
  • Lok Adalat, therefore, provides alternative device for expedious and inexpensive justice.
  • In lok adalat proceedings there are no victors and loosers and thus no enmity.
  • Experiment of ‘Lok Adalat’ as an alternate mode of dispute settlement has come to be accepted in India, as a viable, economic, efficient and informal one.
  • There is no court fee and if court fee is already paid the amount will be refunded if the dispute is settled at Lok Adalat according to the rules.

 

In the case of State of West Bengal v. Union of India5, the hon’ble Supreme Court clarified the relationship between sections 12 and section 20 of the Act as follows:

  • The power of the trial Court under sub-section (1) of Section 20 in making reference of any particular case to a Lok Adalat operates independently of Section 12 of the Act
  • The power of the concerned Authority or the Committee under sub-section (2) of Section 20 organising the Lok Adalat is controlled by the criteria prescribed by Section 12.
  • If parties to dispute refer matter to Lok Adalat then they need not to fall in the category of people entitled for legal aid as provided in the Act
  • If legal services authority refer a case to Lok Adalat then parties associated with the dispute should only be those who are entitled for free legal aid as per section 12 of the Act.

 

Permanent Lok Adalat

 

There are many reasons for overburdening of Indian Courts. One reason is lack of personal interest of party in settlement of public utility services disputes, which reach to the Indian Courts in large number. Government officials involved in public utility services disputes hardy give any attention to settlement of disputes quickly. So the need was felt for the establishment of the permanent alternate dispute resolution mechanism especially for the settlement of public utility services disputes. This led to the establishment of Permanent Lok Adalat.

 

The main aim of Permanent Lok Adalat is to settle the public utility disputes quickly and finally. So it has one additional power of deciding the dispute on merit if parties fail to arrive at the settlement or compromise. This way it avoids the chances of delay in settlement of disputes.

 

“Public Utility Service” means and includes:

  • Transport service for the carriage of passengers or goods by air, road or water; or postal, telegraph or telephone service; or
  • Supply of power, light or water to the public by any establishment; or
  • System of public conservancy or sanitation; or service in hospital or dispensary; or Insurance service
  • Includes any service which the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may, in the public interest, by notification, declare to be a public utility service for the purposes of this chapter

 

Composition:

  • A person who is, or has been, a district judge or additional district judge or has held judicial office higher in rank than that of a district judge, shall be the Chairman of the Permanent Lok Adalat;
  • Two other persons having adequate experience in public utility service.
  • Any party to a dispute may, before the dispute is brought before any court, can make an application to the Permanent Lok Adalat for the settlement of dispute.
  • It does not has jurisdiction in respect of any matter relating to an offence not compoundable under any law.
  • It also has no jurisdiction in the matter where the value of the property in dispute exceeds ten lakh rupees.
  • The Central Government, may, by notification, increase the limit of ten lakh rupees specified in the second proviso in consultation with the Central Authority.

 

Provisions like appointment of members from the legal and non-legal background make the board of adjudicators more efficient for understanding the disputes of parties and settling their disputes quickly and amicably. It has conciliatory as well as adjudicatory power but there are enough provisions under the Act to put the check of the arbitrary exercise of power.

 

To save the time in settlement of disputes it need not to follow the formal procedure but it is bound to follow the principle of natural justice. If the arbitrary act or misconduct is proved on the part of the board of settlement, then they can be removed from the board and the award passed by such persons will not enjoy the status of finality. Therefore, it can be said that the establishment of the Permanent Lok Adalat is a very useful mechanism for settlement of the public utility services disputes amicably and quickly.

 

Every award of the Permanent Lok Adalat under this Act made either on merit or in terms of a settlement agreement is final and binding. It shall not be called in question in any original suit, application or execution proceeding. It is deemed to be a decree of a civil court. It is always by a majority of the persons constituting the Permanent Lok Adalat. The Permanent Lok Adalat may transmit any award made by it to a civil court having local jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by that court

 

Conclusion

 

Certain miscellaneous/residuary provisions have been provided under this Act which empowers the Central Government and the State Government to make rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions this Act. To cope up with the changing requirements of equal administration of justice, such residuary power are very essential.

 

For the administration of justice it is very necessary that justice provider should have sufficient powers to administer justice and immunity from action for anything done in good faith. The Legal Services Authorities Act has provided sufficient powers to its officers engaged in the implementation of provisions of this Act. They have been given the status of the public servant and the immunity from action for any thing done in good faith has been provided.

 

The provisions of this Act have the overriding effect over other Acts which helps in implementation of the provisions of this Act without any confusion. If the confusion arises despite of having such overriding effect, then the central and the state governments have been given the power to make rules and regulations for the efficient implementation of the provisions. Such rules and regulations have to pass a very strict procedure for approval which eliminates the chance of corruption, misconduct or any other malpractice.

 

It can be said that this Act is a golden gift for the general public as on one hand it provides free legal aid to needy people and promoted speedy disposal of disputes on the other hand it also helps the judiciary by reducing its workload.

you can view video on Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

 

REFERENCES:-

 

• Arora, B.L.; Law of Speedy Trial in India (2003)

• Bhagwati, P.N.; Legal Aid as Human Right (1999)

• Deshta,Sunil; Lok Adalat in India-People’s programme for Speedy Justice(1995)

• Juneja, P.C.; Equal Access to Justice (1993)

• Murlidhar, S.; Law, Poverty and Legal Aid (2004)

• Maratha, Hari Om; Law of Speedy Trial (2008)

• Paranjape, N.V.; Public Interest Litigation, Legal Aid, Lok Adalat and Para-Legal Services (2008)

• Rao, Mamta; Public Interest Litigation, Legal Aid and Lok Adalat (2004)

• Rao, P.C. & William Sheffield; Alternate Dispute Resolution: What it is & How it works? (2007)

• Rai, Kailash; Public Interest Lawyering, Legal Aid and Para Legal

• Sarkar, S.K.; Law Relating to Lok Adalats and Legal Aid (2002)

• Singh, Avtar; Arbitration Conciliation & Alternate Dispute Resolution (2008)

• Singh, Sujan; Legal Aid-Human Right to Equality (1998)

• Sharma, S.S.; Legal Services, Public Interest Litigations and Para-Legal Services (2002)

• SSorabjee,Soli; Constitutionalism, Human Rights and Rule of

• Srivastava; Commentary on Legal Services Authorities Act (2001)

• Swaroop, R.; Law Relating To Legal Aid and Lok Adalat (2003)