legal aid: its necessity, need and parameters of such aid

7/24/2019 Legal Aid: its necessity, need and parameters of such aid

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Legal Aid: its need, necessity and parameters of such aid

Introduction

"There can be no equal justice where the kind of trial a man gets, depends on the amount

of money he has"- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, 1964

Justice is perhaps the most miscostrue! term i the histor" o# maki!. $he cocept o# %ustice

&aries 'ith time a! space. $he theor" o# social cotract sa"s that people came together a! ga&e

up certai rights a! the state came ito (eig 'ith the pricipal purpose o# pro&i!ig %ustice to

its citi)es. Justice is the gru! orm o# social cotract a! 'ithout %ustice, #ou!atio o# societ"

'oul! collapse. $hus, to make this #ou!atio resiliet, the cocept o# #ree legal ai! came ito

(eig 'hich meas gratig #ree legal ser&ice to poor or po&ert"-stricke sectios o# the societ"

'ho are ua(le to a##or! the ser&ices o# a la'"er 'ho ca ha!le the case a! !e#e! them i

court o# la'. Ho'e&er legal ai! has "et aother !imesio i the sese that e&e #iaciall"

sou! people re*uire it, though o# course ot #reel" a! i a !i##eret 'a", i.e. to ko' 'hether

lauchig a litigatio is a &ia(le optio or ot. +# u!erstoo! this 'a", legal ai! ma" pla" &er"

importat role i cur(ig e&er moutig arrears o# uecessar" litigatio i courts. t the same

time it ma" also ecourage people to look #or alterati&e solutios like me!iatio to sa&e time

a! a&oi! ee!less litigatio (" hol!ig couselig sessios.

+ +!ia, pro&i!ig legal ai! is ot ol" the !ut" o# the state (ut a costitutioal o(ligatio as

'ell. $he priciple o# egal ai! recei&e! most eplicit treatmet i 19/6, (" 'a" o# 40

!

me!met to our Costitutio.1

1 +s. B" costitutio #ort"-seco! me!met2 ct, 19/6, sec. 3. '.e.#. r! Jauar" 19//.2

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+t pro&i!es, The state shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes Justice, on

the basis of equal opportunity, and 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 disabilities5.

rticle 9- o# the +!ia costitutio0(esto's a !ut" o the state to gi&e #ree legal ai! to poor

a! !o'tro!!e to esure %ustice is accessi(le to all. Compellig toe o# the laguage o# this

pro&isio imposes certai ma!ator" o(ligatios o the state. lthough, (eig liste! as oe o# the

irecti&e priciples o# the state polic", it also poses a !isputa(le *uestio7 !o these o(ligatios

create a" e#orcea(le #u!ametal right o# #ree legal ai! #or poor8 s'er to this *uestio

!epe!s upo as to ho' oe &ie's the relatioship o# irecti&e riciples a! :u!ametal

;ights.$hose 'ho support the literal iterpretatio o# our Costitutio are (ou! to argue that

rt. 9- !oes ot gi&e rise to a" e#orcea(le #u!ametal rights.


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Constitution are forerunners of the !"#"$" Convention on %ight to Development as inalienable

human right&&&& therefore, the Directive Principles now stand elevated to inalienable

fundamental rights" 'ven they are (usticiable by themselves")*

$he essece o# im(i(ig legal ai! i the Costitutio is to #ul#ill the #u!ametal o(%ecti&e o#

e*ualit" i societ" (" ete!ig a >helpig ha!5 through legal ai!. $here#ore, legal ai! aspires

to accomplish the costitutioal ple!ge o# >%ustice #or all5. State has a !ut" to !el&e i a! esure

promotio o# %ustice o the (asis o# e*ual opportuit" #or its citi)es. Hece, it must make

ecessar" arragemets #or implemetatio o# #ree legal ai! to #iaciall" icapa(le sectios o#

societ".

Legal Aid $o%ement

egal ai! is ot a recet cocept. +t !ates (ack to 19 thcetur". $he e&olutio o# the i!ea o# legal

ai! came up i :race !urig the "ear 13?1 'he the :rech go&ermet !eci!e! to itro!uce a

ct to pro&i!e legal ser&ices to the !epri&e! sectios o# societ". s trackig (ack the eistece

the #irst legal ai!, it #irst took place i Uite! States o# merica. + the Uite! States, a

orgai)e! egal i! @o&emet #or the poor (ega i 13/6 'ith the esta(lishmet o# a

orgai)atio #or pro&i!ig legal assistace #or the the recetl" arri&e! immigrats4 (" the

Aerma Societ" o# the e' ork. $he egal i! 'as a !i##use! mo&emet till 1919, 'he

;egial! He(er Smith, a a!&ocate 'ith the Bosto egal i! Societ", pu(lishe! a 'ork-

Justice a! the oor- 'hich ga&e 'a" to some outsta!ig e' i!eas.

3 ir +!ia Statutor" Corp. &. Uite! la(our uio, .+. ;.199/ S. C.64?at p. 6?3.

4 @. CappillettiD The 'mergence of a +odern Theme i Cappilletti, Aor!le" a! Johso.

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$he importat i!ea 'as that there 'as a collecti&e social resposi(ilit" o the Bar to pro&i!e

opportuities #or the urepresete! masses to secure access to the %ustice s"stem a! it 'as

i!ee! a crucial !e&elopmet i u(lic +terest a'.

$he came a orgai)e! #orm o# egal i! i 'hich there 'as a i!epe!et pri&ate o##ice E

separate #rom a" commercial la' #irm- 'ith salarie! la'"ers 'orkig #ull-time o the pro(lems

o# cliets. $his orgai)atio 'as, ho'e&er, critical to the !e&elopmet o# u(lic +terest a'. +t

'as a e' ki! o# istitutio that mo&e! a'a" #rom the cocept o# i!i&i!ual ser&ice per#orme!

o a &olutar" cotri(utio (asis. +t 'as a mo!el that ha! (ee #ollo'e! (ecause o# its

e##ecti&eess. U!er this mo!el, those ruig the orgai)atio, the a!&ocates !i! ot ha&e to

treat u(lic +terest ser&ice as a uecoomic eterprise, i cotrast 'ith a other'ise lucrati&e

commercial practice. +t 'as i!ee! a ra!ical (egiig. Ho'e&er, egal i! 'as too (ig a

o(%ecti&e #or charit" to support. But, surel", the egal i! @o&emet accomplishe! a great !eal.

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Legal Aid in India

+ +!ia, the cocept o# legal ai! starte! i 19?0 'he the Ao&ermet a!!resse! the *uestio o#

pro&i!ig legal ai! to the poor i &arious a' Co#ereces. Fith the aim to set i motio the

implemetatio o# the Costitutio ma!ate o# rt. 9-, Ao&ermet o# +!ia appoite! the

&er" high po'er >Committee? #or +mplemetig egal i! Schemes5 G&ILA' u!er the

chairmaship o# .. Bhag'ati J. Gas he the 'as, to moitor a! implemet legal ai!

programmes o a ui#orm (asis i all states a! uio territories. C+S e&ol&e! a mo!el

scheme #or legal ai! programme applica(le throughout the coutr" (" 'hich se&eral legal ai!

a! a!&ice Boar!s ha&e (ee set up i the states a! uio territories.6

$he Committee ma!e some ote'orth" o(ser&atios, Preventive legal service"""requires a

qualitative and radical change in the functioning of the legal service program"""t does not

regard litigation as playing an important role"""it is more concerned with the problems of the

poor as a class, and is calculated to help organize the poor, so that they may be able to act on

the realization that real political power rests with them, and""""shape the destiny of the country"-

$he Committee ma!e #ollo'ig recomme!atiosD$o promote legal literac" a! a'areess o#

legal rights, settig up o# legal a!&ice (oar! at State le&el creatig a ca!re o# (are#oot la'"ers,

legal ai! cliics, sesiti)ig the legal pro#essio to the ultimate goal o# social chage, etc. a!

make use o# the mass-me!ia, co!uct socio-legal sur&e"s etc.

5 B" resolutio !ate!, 06thSeptem(er 193I.see also reports o# Au%arat Committee chaire! (" Bhag&ati

C.J. 19/12 a! $he eperts Committee o egal ai!, Ao&t. o# +!ia, @iistr" o# %ustice ,la' a!

compa" a##airs, chaire! " .;. =risha +"er ,J. 19/2.

6 $he +; @aual, &ol.0, ?th e!itio, 1939, p.p. 06/-63

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Ho'e&er, Ao&ermet reali)e! that recomme!atios o# C+S 'ere ot (eig carrie! out i

realit", as the legal ai! programme has (ee re!uce! to a mere court oriete! programmes a!

ot the ki! o# chage that Justice .. Bhag'ati Gas he the 'as e&isage!, a! legal ai! cells

costitute! as a outcome o# these recomme!atios 'ere su##erig #rom some serious #la's,

a! hece i or!er to e##ecti&el" carr" out the rather am(itious pla e&isage! (" rticle 9-

a! Bhag&ati, J as he the 'as2. +t eacte! >KA SK;+CKS U$H


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istrict egal Ser&ices uthorit" is costitute! i e&er" istrict to implemet egal i!

rogrammes a! Schemes i the istrict. $he istrict Ju!ge o# the istrict is its e-o##icio

Chairma.3

egal ai!, (eig oe o# the most &ital elemets o# proce!ural !ue process u!er rticle 01 is (ou! to

#i! place i pricipal proce!ural la's. ccor!igl", there are speci#ic pro&isios i Cr..C.9a! C..C1I.

Besi!es7 i other legislatios also there are pro&isios #or legal ai!, e.g. $he !&ocates ct, 1961.11

Ho'e&er, the most &ital legislati&e mechaism, 'hich ha! (ecome ma!ator" a#ter the eactmet o# 40 !

me!met ct, 19/6 took as ma" as 11 "ears to sur#ace i the la' (ooks i the #orm o# >KA

SK;+CKS U$H


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(eed )or Legal Aid

espite all the a!&acemets i the 01 stcetur" i the #iel! o# i#ormatio a! techolog", legal

ko'le!ge amogst the masses is still ot su##iciet a! most o# the people are ua'are o# their

(asic #u!ametal rights. ue to this igorace, the" (ecome &ulera(le to eploitatio a! are

!epri&e! o# rights a! (ee#its etitle! #or them. Justice .. Bhaga'ati has &er" clearl" state!

that legal ai! meas pro&i!ig a arragemet ito societ" so that the machier" o#

a!miistratio o# %ustice (ecomes easil" accessi(le a! is ot out o# each o# those 'ho ha&e (ee

resort to it #or e#orcemet o# rights gi&e to them (" la'. 14 $hus, legal ai! to the poor a!

'eaker sectios is compulsor" #or the preser&atio o# the rule o# la' 'hich is ecessar" #or the

eistece o# the societ". K&e a#ter all the e##orts to make the geeral populace a'are o# the

#u!ametal right to legal ai!, there is still a log 'a" to go #or success#ul implemetatio o# the

same i the coutr". $here#ore, it is the urget call o# the hour to e!ucate 'eaker sectios o# the

societ" regar!ig their (asic right o# legal ai! so as to esure that po&ert" is ot a ecum(race

i o(taiig %ustice.

14 ;eport o# the egal i! Committee 19/1, page. ?

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Areas where legal aid is needed:

1.


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possess istea! o# passig e' legislatios to make legal ai! i the coutr" a realit" istea! o#

%ust a m"th i the mi!s o# the coutr"me.1?

'etup of legal Aid organs in India

+ accor!ace 'ith $he egal Ser&ices uthorities Bill, +!ia has set up legal ai! authorities at

#our le&els iclu!ig atio, state, regio a! $aluk. $he legal ai! authorities (uil! the Courts

egal Ser&ices committee at !i##eret le&els. $he #uctio o# legal ai! orgas is to pro&i!e legal

ser&ices to people i accor!ace 'ith the regulatios a! co!uct pre&eti&e a! strategic legal

ai! campaigs etc. +!ias legal ai! orgas pa" all the epeses o# la'suit 'he pro&i!ig legal

ai!. + +!ia, e&er" courts egal Ser&ices Committee emplo"s #ull time legal ai! la'"ers 'ho

ca pro&i!e !irect egal i! to the parties. $here are some legal ai! cases 'hich are ha!le! ("

pri&ate la'"ers a! paralegals.

egal i! ca (e !i&i!e! ito t'o categoriesD

:irst categor" iclu!es se&e social groups as #ollo'sD

1. @em(ers o# SCLS$

0. ictims o# tra##ickig i huma (eigs or (eggars as re#erre! to i rticle 0 o# the

Costitutio

. Fome a! chil!re

4. @etall" ill or other'ise !isa(le! persos

150egal aid in ndia, available athttpDLL'''.legalser&icei!ia.comLarticleLl4I-egal-i!-+-

+!ia.html

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?. ersos u!er circumstaces o# u!eser&e! 'at such as (eig a &ictim o# a mass !isaster,

ethic &iolece, caste &iolece, caste atrocit", #loo!, !rought, earth*uake or i!ustrial !isaster

6. +!ustrial 'orkme

/. ersos i custo!"

$he seco! categor" em(races people 'ith ecoomic (ack'ar!ess, amel" persos 'ith a

aual icome less tha rupees ie thousa! M00?2 or such other higher amout as ma" (e

prescri(e! (" the State Ao&ermet i# the case is (e#ore a court other tha Supreme Court a!

less tha rupees 10,III or such other higher amout as ma" (e prescri(e! (" the Cetral

Ao&ermet i# the case is (e#ore the Supreme Court. + accor!ace 'ith this ct the um(er o#

people eligi(le #or legal ai! coul! (e arou! /?N o# the populatio.16

egal Ser&ices uthorities a#ter eamiig the eligi(ilit" criteria o# a applicat a! the

eistece o# a prima #acie case i his #a&our pro&i!e him cousel at States epese, pa" the

re*uire! Court :ee i the matter a! (ear all ici!etal epeses i coectio 'ith the case. $he

perso to 'hom legal ai! is pro&i!e! is ot calle! upo to spe! a"thig o the litigatio oce

it is supporte! (" a egal Ser&ices uthorit".

atio'i!e et'ork has (ee e&isage! u!er the ct #or pro&i!ig legal ai! a! assistace.

atioal egal Ser&ices uthorit" is the ape (o!" costitute! to la" !o' policies a!

priciples #or makig legal ser&ices a&aila(le u!er the pro&isios o# the ct a! to #rame most

e##ecti&e a! ecoomical schemes #or legal ser&ices. +t also !is(urses #u!s a! grats to State

egal Ser&ices uthorities a! A


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+ e&er" State a State egal Ser&ices uthorit" is costitute! to gi&e e##ect to the policies a!

!irectios o# the Cetral uthorit" S2 a! to gi&e legal ser&ices to the people a! co!uct

ok !alats i the State. State egal Ser&ices uthorit" is hea!e! (" the Chie# Justice o# the

State High Court 'ho is its atro-i-Chie#. ser&ig or retire! Ju!ge o# the High Court is

omiate! as its Kecuti&e Chairma.

istrict egal Ser&ices uthorit" is costitute! i e&er" istrict to implemet egal i!

rogrammes a! Schemes i the istrict. $he istrict Ju!ge o# the istrict is its e-o##icio

Chairma.

$aluk egal Ser&ices Committees are also costitute! #or each o# the $aluk or @a!al or #or

group o# $aluk or @a!als to coor!iate the acti&ities o# legal ser&ices i the $aluk a! to

orgaise ok !alats. K&er" $aluk egal Ser&ices Committee is hea!e! (" a seior Ci&il Ju!ge

operatig 'ithi the %uris!ictio o# the Committee 'ho is its e-o##icio Chairma.1/

#ter the costitutio o# the Cetral uthorit" a! the esta(lishmet o# S o##ice to'ar!s

the (egiig o# 1993, #ollo'ig schemes a! measures ha&e (ee e&isage! a! implemete!

(" the Cetral uthorit"D-

a2 Ksta(lishig ermaet a! Cotiuous ok !alats i all the istricts i the coutr" #or

!isposal o# pe!ig matters as 'ell as !isputes at pre-litigati&e stage7

(2 Ksta(lishig separate ermaet a! Cotiuous ok !alats #or Ao&t. epartmets,

Statutor" uthorities a! u(lic Sector U!ertakigs #or !isposal o# pe!ig cases as 'ell as

!isputes at pre-litigati&e stage7

17See 1upraote 3

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c2 ccre!itatio o# A


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promotig his pri&ate practice. U!er trials ha&e to rot i %ail #or a loger perio! o# time %ust

(ecause the la'"er appoite! to them sho's ochalat attitu!e a! !oes ot #ollo' up the case

or solel" keeps o !ela"ig the trial or the appoite! la'"er se!s his %uior 'ho has a(solutel"

o ko'le!ge a(out the case.

o&ert" a! lack o# access to %ustice are itrisicall" coecte!. o&ert", 'hich creates a &icious

circle o# !isempo'ermet,19 is ot merel" a i!icator o# ecoomic !epri&atio (ut also a

i!icator o# the social, political a! a(o&e all legal !epri&atio o# people. o&ert" !isa(les

people to approach the #ormal legal s"stem #or assertio o# their rights a! #or seekig reme!ial

actio i cases o# &iolatio o# legal rights.

o&ert" compou!s o(stacles to access to %ustice-igorace o# the legal pro&isios a! oes

rights, proce!ural techicalities, lackig a'areess a(out the compleities o# the legal s"stem,

&er" little or o access to legal ser&ices o# a" ki!, alog 'ith lack o# resources to maage the

high cost o# litigatio are some o# the cose*ueces o# po&ert". 0I$his results i their (eig

sho&e! a'a" #rom the maistream, a! the" (ecome costraie! i (ecomig potetial

ecoomic #actors cotri(utig to the atioPs !e&elopmet.01

19 o&ert" is a re#lectio o# po'erlessess a! the po'er#ul ee! to (e challege! i# chage is torelie&e!isa!&atage! as metioe! i $o iet) i the ge!a i eil @i!!leto, hilokee#eke! ;o( isser K!.2,egotiatig o&ert" e' irectio ;ee'e! e(ate #orm B. Fiser 1933,Power and #eed in /frica, o!o,Karth sca, o!o, 0II1, p.01.

20i!ita u%ari 0II92,Poverty and /ccess to Justice Dimensions of Public nterest 0itigation,e'elhiDKaster Kcoom" K!itio.

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ccess to %ustice is ot a clearl" !e#ie! phrase. +t co&ers a 'i!e &ariet" o# matters iclu!ig

accessi(ilit" to court, a!e*uate legal represetatio, a&aila(ilit" o# legal ai!,00legal a!&ice a!

legal e!ucatio. ll these approaches are merel" #acilitati&e i ature. Ho'e&er, it shoul! rather

re#er to a s"stem 'hich is ot ol" e*uall" accessi(le to all (ut also lea!s to results that are

i!i&i!uall" a! sociall" %ust.

$here#ore, mechaisms that merel" pa&e the 'a" #or approachig the %ustice !eli&er" s"stems

a! are !e&oi! o# cose*uet su(stati&e %ustice are merel" empt" #ormalities.0(o&e all these

tri(ulatios, there are other i&isi(le (arriers i#estig the s"stem too, such as lack o# courage to

eercise legal rights, the procli&it" to su##er siletl" the !eial o# rights, a! geographical a!

spatial (arriers are eamples. Such (arriers keep people !isempo'ere! a! su(%ecte! to

eploitatio (" po'er#ul people.

$hus, much more is re*uire! to ea(le the legal machier" to reali)e the goal o# e*ual %ustice to

all a! the protectio o# the 'eak a! the u!erpri&ilege! sectios o# the societ".04

Landmark judgments highlighting legal aid as a fundamental right

;ole o# Ju!iciar" i this area as a iterpreter a! e#orcer o# Costitutioal ma!ate a! as the

true custo!ia o# the costitutio is sigi#icat a! pertiet. lthough, o' legal ai! has (ee

21 U. Sarathchandran, Bringing legal aid a step closer home, The Hindu (2011, available at:htt!"##$$$.thehindu.c%%!ini%n#'ead#ringing)'ega')aid)a)*te!)c'%*er)h%&e#artic'e2609718.ece

22rticle 9- o# the costitutio o# +!ia pro&i!es #ree legal ai! to the poor a! 'eaker sectios o# thesociet".

23See 1upraote 0I

24 alla&i Bahar 0II92D%evitalizing Judiciary 'nhancing access to the Poor, e' elhi D Kaster Kcoom"K!itio.

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recogi)e! (" the Courts as a #u!ametal right u!er rticle 01, earlier there 'as a am(iguit"

as to the scope o# the right a! positio relatig to its &ali!it" 'as uclear.

Supreme Court has eumerate! t'o situatios as to 'he a prisoer is etitle! #or legal ai! i

'unil +atra % elhi Administration-.. :irstl", to seek %ustice #rom the priso authorities a!

seco!l", to challege the !ecisio o# such authorities i the court. Hece, the re*uiremet o#

legal ai! 'as (rought a(out i ot ol" %u!icial procee!igs (ut also procee!igs (e#ore the

priso authorities 'hich 'ere a!miistrati&e i ature.

$he pe Court has reiterate! its positio i /ussainara 0hatoon % /ome 'ecretary, 'tate of

+ihar-1 a! hel!D &it is an essential ingredient of reasonable, fair and (ust procedure to a

prisoner who is to see2 his liberation through the court3s process that he should have legal

services available to him" 4ree legal service to the poor and the needy is an essential element of

any reasonable, fair and (ust procedure"5 $he court i&oke! rticle 9- 'hich pro&i!es #or #ree

legal ai! a! has iterprete! rticle 01 i cosoace 'ith rticle 9-. $he court uphel! the

right to #ree legal ai! to (e pro&i!e! to the poor accuse! persos ot i the permissi&e sese o#

rticle 0012 a! its 'i!er amplitu!e (ut i the peremptor" sese o# article 01 co#ie! to

priso situatios

$'o "ears therea#ter, i the case o# 0hatri % 'tate of +ihar,0/ Justice .. Bhag'ati 'hile

epressig his aguish at the State #or ot a!herig to the or!er o# pro&i!ig #ree legal ser&ices

to a accuse!, hel! that the State 'as u!er a costitutioal ma!ate to pro&i!e #ree legal ai! to

25193I +; 1?/9, 193I SC; 02 ??/

2619/9 +; 169, 19/9 SC; 2 ?0

271931 SC; 02 4I3, 1931 SCC 12 60/

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a accuse! perso 'ho is ua(le to secure legal ser&ices o accout o# i!igece, a! 'hate&er

is ecessar" #or this purpose has to (e !oe (" the State.

other case i 'hich importace o# legal ai! 'as highlighte! is $/ /oskot % 'tate of

$aharashtra,03the pe court hel! that there is implicit i the Court u!er rticle 140 rea!

'ith rticles 01 a! 9- o# the Costitutio, po'er to assig cousel #or such imprisoe!

i!i&i!ual P#or !oig complete %ustice. + this case, it 'as hel! that a accuse! is epecte! to get

#ree legal ai! u!er article 9.

lthough, it !oest mea that a 'rit o# ma!amus ca (e #ile! i Supreme Court compellig the

State to gi&e #iacial assistace to egage a cousel o# his choice. + 1936, i aother case o#

'ukhdas % 2nion Territory of Arunachal *radesh,09Justice .. Bhag'ati, 'hile re#errig to

the !ecisio o# Hussaiara =hatoos caseIma!e the #ollo'ig o(ser&atios i paragraph 62 the

sai! %u!gmetD-

>#ow it is common 2nowledge that about 567 of the people living in rural areas are illiterate

and even more than that percentage of the people are not aware of the rights conferred upon

them by law" 'ven literate people do not 2now what are their rights and entitlements under the

law" t is this absence of legal awareness which is responsible for the deception, e8ploitation and

deprivation of rights and benefits from which the poor suffer in this land"

28 +; 19/3, SCC 31

29 1936 +; 991, 1936 SC; 12 ?9I

30 see 1upraote /

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Their legal needs always stand to become crisis oriented because their ignorance prevents them

from anticipating legal troubles and approaching a lawyer for consultation and advice in time

and their poverty because magnifies the impact of the legal troubles and difficulties when they

come" +oreover, of their ignorance and illiteracy, they cannot become selfreliant9 they cannot

even help themselves" The 0aw ceases to be their protector because they do not 2now that they

are entitled to the protection of the law and they can avail of the legal service programs for

putting an end to their e8ploitation and winning their rights" The result is that poverty becomes

with them a condition of total helplessness" This miserable condition in which the poor find

themselves can be alleviated to some e8tent by creating legal awareness amongst the poor" That

is why it has always been recognized as one of the principal items of the program of the legal aid

movement in the country to promote legal literacy"

t would be in these circumstances made a moc2ery of legal aid if it were to be left to a poor,

ignorant and illiterate accused to as2 for free legal service, legal aid would become merely a

paper promise and it would fail of its purpose")

+ &entre for Legal 3esearch and anr % 'tate of 0erala ,1Chie# Justice Bhag'ati took a step

#urther a! lai! !o' orms a! gui!elies #or the State to #ollo' i gi&ig support a!

cooperatio to &olutar" orgai)atios a! social actio groups i operatig legal ai!

programmes a! orgai)ig legal ai! camps a! lok a!alats or iti melas.

Fhile !eli&erig the %u!gmet Bhag'ati, C.J., state! that the 'rit petitio raise! a *uestio as to

'hether &olutar" orgai)atios or social actio groups egage! i the legal ai! programmes

shoul! (e supporte! (" the State Ao&ermet a! i# so to 'hat etet a! u!er 'hat co!itios.

31 +; 1936 SC 100, 1936 12 SCK 9I/, 19362 0 SCC /I6, 1936 02 UJ 44? SC

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>There can be no doubt that if the legal aid programme is to succeed it must involve public

participation" The 1tate :overnment undoubtedly has an obligation under /rticle *;/ of the

Constitution which embodies a directive principle of 1tate policy to set up a comprehensive and

effective legal aid programme in order to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes

(ustice on the basis of equality"


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The assistance of voluntary agencies and social action groups must therefore be ta2en by the

1tate for the purpose of operating the legal aid programme in its widest and most comprehensive

sense, and this is an obligation which flows directly from /rticle *;/ of the Constitution" t is

also necessary to lay down norms which should guide the 1tate in lending its encouragement

and support to voluntary organizations and social action groups in operating legal aid

programmes and organizing legal aid camps and lo2 adalats or niti melas" >e are of the view

that the following norms should provide sufficient guidance to the 1tate in this behalf and we

would direct that the 1tate :overnment shall, in compliance with its obligations under /rticle

*;/ of the Constitution e8tend its cooperation and support to the following categories of

voluntary organizations and social action groups in running the legal aid programme and

organizing legal aid camps and lo2 adalats or niti melas"5

Some importat gui!elies gi&e (" +!ia Ju!iciar" #or the maipulati&e, !ispesig a! !eli&er" o#

legal ai! i certai prooucemets0ca (e summe! up as #ollo'igD

1. $he +!ia populatio, ma%orit" o# 'hich is poor i ecoomic meas a! their social

placemet, ee!s legal ai! i its li(eral a! etesi&e pro&isios.

0. egal ai!, i its scope, shoul! cotai (oth pre&eti&e a! reme!ial aspects.

. $he reme!ial part o# legal ai!, ma!e a&aila(le a#ter *uali#"ig the re*uire! tests, shoul! (e

capa(le o# meetig all the ee!s o# the (ee#iciar" to make him sta! e*ual to his a!&ersar".

4. $he coucil ma!e a&aila(le to ee!" perso #or legal ai! must (e Competet.

32@a!ha& Hoskot &s. state o# @aharashtra, +; 19/3 S. C.1?43., Hussaiara =hatoo Q others &s.

Home Secretor", State o# Bihar,+; 19/9 S.C. 16I,Suil Batra s. ehli !miistratio +; 193I

S.C.1?/9 ,Aopalachari &s. State o# =erala,+; 1931 S.C. 6/4, ;a%a 'i&e!i s. Uio o# +!ia, +;

193, S.C.604, Sukh!as Q aother s. Uio $erritor" o# ruachal ra!esh ,+; 1936 S.C. 991., Cetre

#or legal research Q aother s. State o# =erala, +; 1936 S.C. 019?.

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?. $he state shoul! u!ertake the resposi(ilit" 'ith a acti&e associatio a! cotri(utio #rom

the commuit" agecies a! orgai)atios.

6. Fhile i!eti#"ig those i ee! o# legal ai!, ot ol" the istrumet o# meas test (ut also the

social !epri&atio o# a perso or class o# persos must (e recogi)e!.

/. $he i&ol&emet o# orgai)atios i this #iel! o# legal ai! must (e ecourage! a! supporte!

(" state.

3. $he la'"ers, as pro#essioals shoul! recogi)e! their social o(ligatio to'ar!s the poorest o#

the poor a! lo'liest o# the lo'.

9. $he mem(ers o# Ju!iciar" also o'e a !ut", as a iterpreter o# the letters a! spirit o#

Costitutio o# +!ia, to'ar!s the lo'l" a! lost societ".

1I. $he pu(lic Espirite! people a! their orgai)atios must take up the cu!gels #or the rights o#

'eak a! the meek.

11. $he legal ai! as the istrumet is capa(le o# achie&ig e*ualit" i the societ"7 it shoul! (e

ma!e a&aila(le at all stages o# the case.

10. egal ai!, (eig cocomitat o# right to li#e a! proce!ure esta(lishe! (" la' shoul! (e

ma!e a&aila(le to ee!" citi)es as matter o# right a! ot as a charit".

1. ok a!alats shoul! (e take as the itegral part o# legal ai!, as the cociliator" a! a spee!"

%ustice are also part o# it.

14. $he la' schools, la' teachers a! stu!ets alike, must (e acti&el" a! ecouragigl"

i&ol&e! i u!ertakig the programmes o# legal literac", traiig o# ara- legals a! the task o#

legal assistace.

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22/25

1?. $he pre&eti&e aspect o# legal ai! i its &arious parts a! !imesios is more importat tha

the reme!ial aspect.

16. egal ai! re*uires to (e a!opte! as a mo&emet a! the maagemet o# its schemes must (e

kept #ree #rom political a! Ao&ermetal cotrol a! clouts.

+t ma" (e argue! that a#ter the isertio o# rticle 9- , the costitutioal ma!ate to sa#eguar!

legal ai! to poor a! &ictimi)e! people is a #u!ametal Costitutioal irecti&e a! is a

iterpretati&e tool #or rticle 01.

'uggestions

1. + or!er to icrease the epiceter o# legal ai! a! to icorporate all the sectios o# societ",

it is ecessar" to la" stress o the people a! orgai)atios 'orkig at the grass root

le&els. @icro le&el pro%ects i&ol&ig a couple o# &illages i each stage shoul! (e

iitiate!. +t is i this spirit that the atioal egal Ser&ices uthorit" S2 has come

up 'ith the i!ea o# para-legal &oluteers to (ri!ge the gap (et'ee the commo perso

a! legal ser&ices istitutios. $he scheme seeks to utilise commuit"-(ase! &oluteers

selecte! #rom &illages a! other localities to pro&i!e (asic legal ser&ices to the commo

people. K!ucate! persos 'ith commitmet to social ser&ice a! 'ith a recor! o# goo!

character are selecte!. $he &oluteers are traie! (" !istrict legal ser&ices authorities. $he

traiig e*uips them to i!eti#" the la'-relate! ee!s o# the margialise! i their localit".

33 =risha +"er J. has trace! the (irth o# article 9- i article 3 o# UH; Q article 14 2o# +CC; i

@.H. Hoskats case.

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Such ee!s iclu!e assistace to secure legal rights, (ee#its a! actioa(le etitlemets

u!er !i##eret go&ermet schemes that are !eie! to them. Comig as the" !o #rom the

same localit", the" are i a (etter positio to i!eti#" those 'ho ee! assistace a! (rig

them to the earest legal ser&ices istitutios to sol&e their pro(lems 'ithi the

#rame'ork o# la'.

$he" ca assist !isempo'ere! people to get their etitlemets #rom go&ermet o##ices

'here or!iar" people o#te #ace hassles o accout o# (ureaucratic letharg" a!

apath".4

0. lso, the la'"ers pro&i!e! u!er #ree legal ai! ser&ices must (e eperiece! a! (e

ma!e accouta(le so that those recei&ig e! !o ot get eploite! a! ultimatel" (ee#it

#rom them. $here shoul! (e a committee or a (o!" to keep a check o the legal help

'hich is pro&i!e! so that the ser&ices are *ualitati&e a! ot i#erior.

. Kach !istrict legal ai! ser&ice authorit" shoul! itegrate la' stu!ets a! paralegal

traiig must (e imparte! to them alog 'ith orgai)ig a'areess camps. $his 'a" the

stu!ets 'oul! get appropriate #irstha! eperiece i &arious #iel!s o# la' ("

cotri(utig to'ar!s societ".

4. S has come up 'ith a pro%ect to set up legal ai! cliics i all &illages, su(%ect to

#iacial &ia(ilit". +gorace o# 'hat to !o 'he #ace! 'ith la'-relate! situatios is a

commo pro(lem #or !isempo'ere! people. egal ai! cliics 'ork o the lies o#

34 See 1upra ote ?

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primar" health ceters, 'here assistace is gi&e #or simple ailmets a! other mior

me!ical re*uiremets o# &illage resi!ets. egal ai! cliics assist i !ra#tig simple

otices, #illig up #orms to a&ail (ee#its u!er go&ermetal schemes a! (" gi&ig

iitial a!&ice o simple pro(lems. legal ai! cliic is a #acilit" to assist a! empo'er

people 'ho #ace (arriers to access to %ustice.P ;ecetl", +!ias highest legal ai! cliic

'as opee! i Sikkim.?

?. + a ma%or step to promote legal ai!, go&ermet o# +!ia has ma!e it compulsor" #or all

the la' colleges i the coutr" to ha&e a legal cliic a! itro!uce cliical e!ucatio i

the curriculum. +itiati&es like these ot ol" sesiti)e stu!ets to'ar!s societ" (ut also

gi&e them essetial eposure.

&onclusion

Fe ca #i! a cosi!era(le chage i the approach o# Supreme Court #rom its earlier staces

to'ar!s implemetig the right to #ree legal ai!. :rom (eig the !ut" o# the accuse! to ask #or

legal ai!, it has slo'l" (ecome the #u!ametal right o# a accuse! to seek #ree legal ai!. K&e

a#ter all this progress, there are still some u#ille! gaps i the o(%ecti&es set.


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opportuit" to seek %ustice. egal ser&ices istitutios ha&e util o', #uctioe! i ucharte!

'aters, o#te makig their presece #elt ol" at certai ports o# call like court-(ase! legal

ser&ices, orgaisig legal literac" camps a! ok !alats. o', 'ith a mo!el shi#t i the cocept

o# legal ser&ices, legal ser&ices authorities are reachig out to the people to #acilitate access to

%usticeP to all i the most practica(le a! ecoomical maer. ike e&er" other %oure", this

%oure" relatig to the achie&emet o# ratioal societ" through egal i! shoul! (e >ceaseless

and relentless.

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legal aid: its necessity, need and parameters of such aid

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