National Legal Services Day, observed on November 9, highlights the importance of legal aid and accessible justice for all. Initiated by the Supreme Court, it raises awareness of free legal services, especially for economically weaker areas, promotes legal understanding, dispute resolution and equal representation of marginalized communities in India.
National Legal Services Day is celebrated every year in India on 9 November. The event commemorates the enactment of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987, which came into force on 9 November, 1995. This observance was initiated by the Supreme Court of India to create awareness among the people about the law and ensure justice for all, especially the weaker sections. .
Importance and goals
The most important goal of National Legal Services Day is to raise people’s awareness about legal rights and dispute resolution mechanisms. It emphasizes that people with economic disabilities should not be deprived of representation in court. On that very day, various agreements were made to raise public awareness about free legal services and equal access to justice.
Core goals:
Legal knowledge: Educating citizens about their legal rights.
Free legal services: Ensure that economically weaker and poorer sections are represented in court
Conflict Resolution: Promote Lok Adalats (people’s courts) to resolve disputes amicably.
Historical context
The celebration of National Legal Services Day originated from the call made by Chief Justice AS Anand at the First Annual Conference of State Legal Services Authorities in 1998. The meeting was aimed at reviewing legal aid programs are now operating in various parts of India and making them more effective. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), under the provisions of the Legal Services Authority Act, plays an important role in realizing those objectives through the organization of camps, workshops legal awareness and other community outreach programs.
National Legal Services Day Activities
On this day, NALSA as well as its state partners will take a giant step forward in terms of planned activities such as:
Legal Awareness Camp: Educates people about their rights and the availability of legal services.
Boot Camp: Impart knowledge on how to get free legal help and assist them in navigating the justice system
Lok Adalats: Replace dispute resolution forum to resolve cases amicably.
Lok Adalats or “People’s Courts” are an integral part of India’s alternative dispute resolution system, designed to provide accessible and effective justice. There are several types of Lok Adalats, each serving specific purposes and resolving different types of disputes. Here are the main types you need to know:
Types of Lok Adalat
- Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA):
- Established under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.
- Focus on public services such as transportation, postal, and telecommunications.
- Operates as a standing body with a Chairman and two members.
- Has jurisdiction to decide cases up to ₹ 1 crore if the parties fail to reach a settlement and its award is final and binding.
- Lok Adalat Country:
- Held regularly across the country on a specific day.
- Aims to handle a large number of cases simultaneously in all courts from the High Court level to the Taluk level.
- Focus on different topics each month, promoting mass dispute resolution.
- Mega Lok Adalat:
- Similar to National Lok Adalats but usually involves larger gatherings and aims to organize mass settlement events.
- Designed to handle large case volumes in a single day, typically held at the state or county level.
- Lok Adalat Mobile:
- Designed to reach remote areas where access to traditional courts may be limited.
- Operating in various locations on different days, providing legal services directly in the community.
- Daily Lok Adalat:
- Conducted regularly at designated intervals (e.g., daily or weekly) to ensure ongoing access to dispute resolution.
- Helps manage court case backlogs by providing timely resolutions.
- Lok Adalat continuously:
- Continuous operation over long periods of time, allowing for continuous hearings and settlements.
- Aims to provide flexibility to parties seeking resolution without waiting for scheduled sessions
National Legal Services Day is not only about celebrating legal rights, but also about reducing the gap between the law and the marginalized so that justice can be achieved by all in society. reason.
National Legal Services Day strengthens the commitment to justice and legal aid for everyone, especially those in need. By bridging the gap between legal resources and marginalized communities, it ensures that no individual is deprived of representation and that awareness of legal rights becomes a pillar of social equality. festival.
