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Legal Aid services are not only available at the trial stage but also to needy suspects and arrestees during interrogation and other early stages of investigation.
How can the guide help you?
The Nyaaya Guide on Applying for Legal Aid helps citizens understand how to obtain legal services free-of-cost from Legal Services Authorities in India. This includes information on online and offline application for legal aid along with eligibility criteria to request legal aid. It is important for the citizens to understand how to apply for legal aid so as to ensure that the opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability.
What are the laws discussed in the guide?
The Nyaaya Guide on Application for Legal Aid discusses the law on legal aid outlined in the Constitution of India1, 1950, Code of Criminal Procedure, 19732, Code of Civil Procedure, 19083 and Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Things to Remember
BEFORE APPLYING
Free Legal Aid includes:
- An Advocate representing you in court or other legal proceedings.
- Legal Services Authority paying process fees, expenses of witnesses and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal proceedings.
- Preparation of pleadings, memo of appeal, paper book including printing and translation of documents in legal proceedings.
- Drafting of legal documents etc.
- Supplying certified copies of judgments, orders, notes of evidence and other documents in legal proceedings.
- Giving aid and advice regarding welfare laws and schemes in India.
What is Legal Aid?
Free legal aid is the provision of free legal services5 in civil and criminal matters for poor and marginalized groups who cannot afford the services of a lawyer for a case or a legal proceeding in any Court, Tribunal or Authority. These services are governed by Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and headed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
Who can apply for Legal Aid?
- A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
- A victim of trafficking in human beings or begar.
- A woman or a child.
- A person with a mental illness or a person with a disability.
- A person who is a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake, or industrial disaster.
- An industrial workman8.
- In custody, including custody in a protective home9, juvenile home10 or in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home.
What are the income limits for people seeking Legal Aid?
Any person who applies for legal aid can only be eligible for seeking legal aid if they earn below a certain income limit depending on the state in which they live. Given below are the income limits for states:
| S. No. | Income Ceiling Limit (Per Annum) | States/ Union Territories |
| 1 | Rs 3,00,000 | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh UT |
| 2 | Rs 1,50,000 | Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Tripura |
| 3 | Rs 1,00,000 | Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Daman & Diu, Puducherry |
| 4 | Rs 25,000 | Mizoram |
| 5 | Rs 15,000 | Dadar and Nagar Haveli UT |
| 6 | Rs 9,000 | Lakshadweep |
| 7 | General -Rs 1,00,000 Senior Citizen- Rs 2,00,000 Transgender -Rs 2,00,000 |
Delhi |
Where can you seek legal aid?
You may approach the following authorities for legal aid:
- Taluk Legal Services Committee which is in the premises of the Court in that Taluk.
- District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) which is in the premises of the District Court in the District Headquarters.
- The concerned State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) (for cases, panels of which are maintained at State level).
- The High Court Legal Services Committee which is in the premises of the concerned High Court.
- The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee for cases before the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Each DLSA, High Court Legal Services Committee and SLSA has a front office13 where an application can be moved. The front office is a room in the legal services authority where legal services are made available.
What are the documents required for filing an application?
To apply for legal aid, you will require the following documents:
- A proof of identification such as an Aadhar Card, Passport etc.
- An affidavit proving your eligibility for legal aid. For example, if they are claiming they are eligible because their income is below the level specified, then they must give an affidavit of their income, as proof.
|
How to File An Application
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
You can file an application for legal aid in two ways: In-Person and Online.
How do you file a legal aid application in person?
Follow the steps given below to file the application in person:14
- Go to the front office of the nearest legal services authority in your district.
- If you want to approach your State’s legal services authority, go to their front office during the office hours.
- Fill up the ready-made application form available at the legal services authority.
- You can also make an application in writing on a simple piece of paper with the necessary details such as their name, gender, residential address, employment status, nationality, whether SC/ST (with proof in support in the form of a certificate), income per month (with affidavit), the case for which legal aid is required and reason for seeking legal aid.
- You can submit the filled-out application in person at the front office or through post.
- A paralegal volunteer or an officer of the authority will guide you on the next steps to be taken, clarification or other documents required.
How do you file an online legal aid application?
Follow the steps given below to file the application online:
- Go to the National Legal Services Authority’s Legal Services Management System
- Click on ‘Lodge Application Form’ for legal services.
- Change the language of the application by clicking on the Hindi/English button on top left side of the form.
- Choose the Legal Service Authority where you plan to file an application to.
- Choose the State, District or Taluk where you want to file the application to.
- Fill the nature of the legal problem and choose options given in the drop down including law and order, retirement dues, revenue/land/tax, social evils etc. will be available.
- Fill in the summary of the problem for which you are applying for legal aid.
- Add personal details like name, gender, case, caste certificate, annual income etc.
- Enter details related to any previous cases like case type, case no., court type etc.
- Attach documents if you have case or additional information and click on Submit
- Obtain a Diary Number which can be used by you to track the application in the future.
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Can the application be emailed? Yes. You can send the application via email to NALSA at nalsa-dla@nic.in. Ensure the necessary details are mentioned in the email – name, gender, residential address, employment status, nationality, whether SC/ST (with proof in the form of a certificate), income per month (with affidavit), the case for which legal aid is required, reason for seeking legal aid, etc. |
How is the legal aid application processed?
Once you submit the application, the legal services authority will:16
- Scrutinize the application to determine next steps
- Within 7 days of receiving the application, accept or reject the application
- Inform you at your residential address or email address or if the application was made online, update the status. You can track the status using the diary number obtained.
- If the application is accepted, give you information on the lawyer assigned.
- Give a letter of appointment (vakalatnama) to you and the lawyer and the applicant.
Denial & Withdrawal of Legal Aid
Can the Legal Aid be denied or withdrawn later?
Legal Aid can be denied at two stages – at the initial stage before the application for legal aid is accepted and the later stage after the application has been accepted and legal aid has been provided.
Legal aid can be denied or withdrawn if the applicant:
- Is ineligible to apply for legal aid18
- Is above the income limit given by states
- Obtains legal services by misrepresentation or fraud
- Does not cooperate with the Legal Services Authority or with the legal services advocate
- Engages a legal practitioner other than the one assigned by the Legal Services Authority • Event of death of the applicant, except in the civil cases where the rights or liability survive
- Abuses the process of law or of legal services
How do you file an appeal?
The application for legal services will be scrutinized by the Member-Secretary or the Secretary19 of the Legal Services Authority.20 If you are aggrieved by the decision made, you have the option to appeal to the Executive Chairman or Chairman of the Legal Services Authority and the decision resulting from the appeal would be a final one.
Making a Complaint
AGAINST LAWYERS OR LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
Where do you file a complaint?
You can file a complaint to an authority higher to the one in which they have filed an application, in the order mentioned below:
| National Legal Services Authority |
↓
| State Legal Services Authority |
↓
| District Legal Services Authority |
↓
| Taluk Legal Services Authority |
How do you file a complaint about the conduct of the lawyer assigned?
If you are unhappy with the conduct of the lawyer assigned, you can make a formal complaint to the authority that assigned the lawyer by:
- Writing a simple paper application and submitting the same to a Legal Services Authority
- Writing an email to the appropriate authority or NALSA (at nalsa-dla@nic.in)
- Accessing the “Grievance Redressal” option on NALSA website or the respective website of the authority that assigned the lawyer.
Please ensure that the complaint describes the problem that you are facing with the lawyer.
RESOURCES
Contact Information:
Contact Details for National Legal Service Authority
| Name & Address | Contact Details |
| National Legal Services Authority
12/11, Jamnagar House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110011 Office: 011-23385321,23382778 |
E-mail: nalsa-dla@nic.in
Website: www.nalsa.gov.in Fax: 23382121 |
| Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
109, Lawyers Chambers Post Office Wing, Supreme Court Compound, NEW DELHI – 110 001 |
Office: 011-23073970; 23388313; 23381257
Email: sclsc@nic.in Website: www.sclsc.nic.in Fax: 23073970, 23388597 |
Contact Details for State and UT Legal Service Authority
| Name and Address | Contact Details |
| Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Ground Floor, Interim Judicial Complex, High Court Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravathi,-522 237 Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh |
Office: 0863 2372760
E-mail: apslsauthority@yahoo.com Website: http://www.apslsa.ap.nic.in/ |
| Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Chief Minister’s Old Office Building, Niti Vihar, Itanagar, P.O. Itanagar, District Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh – 791111 |
Office: 0360 -2310999/2310116/2310117
Toll Free No.: 15100/18003453153 E-mail: apslsa2013@rediffmail.com Website: www.apslsa.org |
| Assam State Legal Services Authority, 1st Floor, Behind Gauhati High Court New Block, GUWAHATI – 781 001 |
Office: 0361-2601843/2516367
E-mail: aslsa@gmail.com, assamslsa@ gmail.com Website: https://aslsa.assam.gov.in/ |
| Bihar State Legal Services Authority, Opposite Patna Museum, Buddha Marg PATNA – 800 001. |
Toll Free No. 15100 Nyaya Samadhan No: +918709901744
E-mail: bslsa_87@yahoo.in Website: http://patnahighcourt.gov.in/ bslsa/ Registrar: 0612-2230943 Fax: 0612-2508390 |
| Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Old High Court Building, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh– 495001 |
Office: 07752-410210
E-mail: cgslsa.cg@nic.in, cgslsa@gmail. com Website: http://cgslsa.gov.in/ |
| Goa State Legal Services Authority, New High Court Building, Lyceum Complex, Altinho, Panaji Goa – 403 001 |
Office: 0832-2421169, 2421169, 2431910, 2224126
E-mail: reg-high.goa@nic.in Website: www.slsagoa.nic.in |
| Gujarat State Legal Services Authority, Gujarat High Court Complex, Sola, Ahmedabad |
Tele/Fax : 079-27664964, 079-27665296
Toll Free No.: 1800-233-7966 E-mail : msguj.lsa@nic.in Website: https://gujarathighcourt.nic.in/ gslsa |
| Haryana State Legal Services Authority, Institutional Plot No.9, Sector-14, Panchkula (Haryana)-134109 |
Office: 2561309 Helpline No.: 18001802057
E-mail: hslsa.haryana@gmail.com Website: http://hslsa.gov.in/ Fax: 0172-2583309 |
| Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Block No.22, SDA Complex, Kusumpti, SHIMLA – 171 009 |
Office: 0177- 2623862
E-mail: mslegal-hp@nic.in Website: https://himachal.nic.in/ Fax:: 2626962 |
| J&K State Legal Services Authority, Winter Address: (Nov to March) JDA Complex, Janipura, JAMMU-180007 Summer Address: (April to October) Old Secretariat, Srinagar |
Office Jammu: 0191- 2546753 2564764
Office Srinagar : 0191- 2450644, 2480408 Website: http://www.jkslsa.gov.in/ |
| Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority, “NYAYA SADAN” Near AG Office, Doranda, Ranchi – 834002 |
Office: 0651-2481520
E-mail: jhalsaranchi@gmail.com, jhalsa_ ranchi@yahoo.co.in Website: http://jhalsa.org/ Fax: 2482397 |
| Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Nyaya Degula, 1st Floor, H.Siddaiah Road, Bangalore – 560027 |
Office: 080-22111729, 22111714
Toll free No.: 1800-425-90900 E-mail: karslsa@gmail.com mskar-slsa@ hck.gov.in Website: https://kslsa.kar.nic.in/index.html Fax: 22112935 |
| Kerala State Legal Services Authority, Niyama Sahaya Bhavan, High Court Compound, Ernakulam, KOCHI – 682 031 |
Office: 0484-2396717
E-mail: kelsakerala@gmail.com Website: www.kelsa.nic.in |
| Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, C-2, South Civil Lines, Pachpedi, Jabalpur 482001 |
Office: 0761-2678352, 2624537
Toll Free No. : 15100 E-mail: mplsajab@nic.in Website: http://www.mpslsa.gov.in/ Fax: 2678537 |
| Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, 1 05, High Court, PWD Building, Fort, MUMBAI – 400 032 |
Office: 022-22691395 / 2263 1358
E-mail: mslsa-bhc@nic.in Website: legalservices.maharashtra.gov.in Fax: 022-2267 4295 |
| Manipur State Legal Services Authority, ADR Centre, Lamphel Court Complex, Lamphelpat-795004 Imphal West District, Manipur |
Office: +91-9436239669, +91-9436239666
E-mail: maslsa.imphal@gmail.com Website: https://maslsa.nic.in/ Fax: 2411461, 23926742 |
| Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, R.No.120, MATI Building, Additional Secretariat, SHILLONG – 793 001 |
Office:0364-2501051,2336619
E-mail:mslsashillong@gmail.com Website: https://mslsa.gov.in/ Fax: 2336618,2500064 |
| Mizoram State Legal Services Authority, Junior Judges Quarters Building, New Capital Complex, Khatla, Aizwal, Mizoram |
Office: 0389-2336621
E-mail: mizoramslsa@gmail.com Website: https://mizoslsa.mizoram.gov.in/ Fax: 2336619 |
| Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, KDPA Building, Top Floor, D.C. Office Compound, KOHIMA – 797001 |
Office: 0370-2290153
Helpline: 0370-2292144 E-mail: nslsa.nagaland@gov.in Website: https://nslsa.nagaland.gov.in/ |
| Orissa State Legal Services Authority, S.O. Quarter No.20, Cantonment Road, Cuttack -753 001 |
Office: 0671-2307678, 2304389
Helpline No:-0671-2307071 E-mail: oslsa1997@gmail.com Website: https://oslsa.nic.in/ Fax: 2305702 |
| Punjab State Legal Services Authority, Site No.126,Opposite GMADA Community Centre, Sector 69, S.A.S.Nagar, Mohali |
Office: +91-172-2216690,2216750
Toll Free No.: 1968 E-mail: ms@pulsa.gov.in Website: https://pulsa.punjab.gov.in/ |
| Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, Rajasthan High Court Building, Jaipur – 302 005 |
Office: 0141-2227481
E-mail: rj-slsa@nic.in Website: http://www.rlsa.gov.in/ Fax: 227602 |
| Sikkim State Legal Services Authority, Development Area, Gangtok, East Sikkim-737101 |
Office: 03592-207753
Helpline No.: 03592-205377 E-mail: sikkim_slsa@live.com Website: http://sikkimslsa.nic.in/ |
| Telangana State Legal Services Authority IInd Floor, C-Block, High Court Premises, Hyderabad – 500 066 |
Office: 040-23446725
E-mail: telenganaslsa@gmail.com Website: http://tslsa.telangana.gov.in/ Telefax : 040-23446723 |
| Tamil Nadu State Legal Service Authority, North Fort Road, High Court Campus Chennai – 600104. |
Helpline No.: 044–25342441 (From 10 am to 6 pm-on all working days)
Toll Free No.: 1800 4252 441 (From 10 am to 6 pm – on all working days) E-mail: tnslsa@dataone.in , tnslsa@gmail. com Legal Assistance Establishment: Telephone No. : 044 – 25343363 Email ID.: tnslsa.lae@gmail.com Mobile No.: 94450 33363 Website: http://www.tnlegalservices. tn.gov.in/ |
| Tripura State Legal Service Authority, East Bank of Malarmath Dighi Agartala, Tripura (W) – 799001 |
Office: 0381-2322481
Toll Free No.: 1516 E-mail: salsatripura@gmail.com Website: https://slsa.tripura.gov.in/ Fax: 0381-231-0444 |
| Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, 3rd Floor, Jawahar Bhavan Annexe, Lucknow – 226 001 |
Office: 0522-2286395,2286265
Helpline Toll Free No.:1800-419-0234 E-mail: upslsa@nic.in Website: http://upslsa.up.nic.in/ Fax: 0522-2287972,2286260 |
| Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority, Glenthorn Building, High Court Complex, Nainital, Uttarakhand-263002 |
Office: 05942-236762
E-mail: highcourt_ua@nic.in Website: https://slsa.uk.gov.in/ Fax: 236552 |
| West Bengal State Legal Services Authority, City Civil Court Building (1st Floor), 2 & 3, Kiron Sankar Roy Road, KOLKATA – 700 001 |
Office: 033-22483892/22484235
E-mail: wbstatelegal@gmail.com Website: http://www.wbja.nic.in/ |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands,Secretariat, A&N Administration, PORT BLAIR – 744 101 |
E-mail: andslsa2013@gmail.com, secylaw2016@gmail.com |
| UT Chandigarh State Legal Services Authority, Union Territory of Chandigarh, Additional Deluxe Building, Ground Floor, Sector 9-D, Chandigarh – 160009 |
Office: +91-172-2742999
Toll Free No.(Legal Assistance Establishment): 1516 Mobile No.(24×7 Free Legal Advice): +91 7087-112-384 E-mail: slsa_utchd@yahoo.com Website: http://chdslsa.gov.in/ Fax: 2742888 |
| UT Dadra & Nagar Haveli Legal Services Authority, District & Sessions Court, Tokarkhada, Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli (U.T.)Pin – 396 230 |
Office: 0260 – 2641337 / 2644452
Helpline No.: 0260 – 2630175 E-mail: reg.slsa-dnh@gov.in Website: http://slsa.dnh.nic.in/ Fax: 079-2641334 |
| Daman & Diu Legal Services Authority, Moti Daman – 396220 |
Tele/ Fax No.: 0260-2230221
Helpline No.: 0260-2230087 E-mail: damanourt@gmail.com Website: https://daman.nic.in/ slsadamandiu/ |
| Delhi State Legal Services Authority, Pre-fab Building, Patiala House Courts, NEW DELHI – 110 001 |
Help Line: 1516 (24*7), 9870101337, 011- 23071265
E-mail: dslsa-phc@nic.in, lae-dslsa@gov.in Website: http://dslsa.org/ |
| Lakshadweep State Legal Services Authority, District & Sessions Judge, Lakshadweep, KAVARATTI ISLANDS – 682 555 |
Office: 04896-262323, 263138
E-mail: lakshadweepjusticeforall@gmail. com, veebhaskr@gmail.com, lslsa-lk@ nic.in Website: http://lakshadweepforum.com/ kelsa.php |
| U.T. of Puducherry Legal Services Authority, No.3, Lal Bahadur Shastri Street, Puducherry-605 001 |
Website: https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/ puducherry/pondicherry-legal-servicesauthority |
Checklists
- Check whether the applicant is eligible for free legal aid.
- Ensure the applicant has all the relevant documents required for seeking legal aid.
- Decide the mode in which application should be filed – online or offline.
- Look for the nearest Legal Services Authority if the offline mode is chosen.
- Approach the front office of the concerned Legal Services Authority to get the legal aid application form, to seek legal advice, to know status of the case and for any further legal assistance.
Glossary
Front Office: Front office means a room in the Legal Services Institution where legal services are made available. In the Front office are deputed Retainer Lawyers, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and Panel Advocates. An individual may seek Legal advice from the front office. Further the front office drafts applications, petitions, replies etc, it has a record of legal aid applications, it uploads legal aid applications on the website of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), it updates the applicants about particulars of a Panel lawyers marked for their matter and also updates them regularly about the status of their case.
National Legal Service Authority: The 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.
State Legal Service Authority: 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.
Begar: This is a form of forced labour which means involuntary work without any remuneration. In other words, it can be said that a person is compelled to work against his will without being paid for it.
Workman: Any person employed in any industry to do any manual, unskilled, skilled, technical, operational, clerical or supervisory work.
Sources of Information
- Claiming Free Legal Aid / Application Procedure, National Legal Services Authority, available at https://nalsa.gov.in/services/legal-aid/claiming-free-legal-aid-application-procedure
- Getting Started Guide, National Legal Services Authority, available at https://nalsa.gov.in/lsams/pdf/NALSA-Getting_Started_Guide_0.1.pdf
- Websites of State Legal Services Authorities, National Legal Services Authority, available at https://nalsa.gov.in/home
- Front Office Guidelines, National Legal Services Authority, available at https://nalsa.gov.in/acts-rules/guidelines/front-office-guidelines
- Legal Aid, Nyaaya, available at https://nyaaya.org/topic/legal-aid/
- FAQs, National Legal Services Authority, available at https://nalsa.gov.in/faqs
- The National Legal Services Authority (Free and Competent Legal Services) Regulations, 2010 available at https://nalsa.gov.in/acts-rules/regulations/national-legal-services-authority-f ree-and-competent-legal-services-regulations-2010
