Legal Services Day 2022: Every year on November 9, National Legal Services Day is observed to commemorate the implementation of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. On the same day in 1995, this act went into effect. Legal awareness camps are held on National Legal Services Day to educate people about the availability of free legal aid. There are currently six authorities or institutions in place to provide free legal aid to the poor and vulnerable segments of society. Everything you need to know about the day is listed below:
History of Legal Services Day
On October 11, 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was passed. It became effective on November 9, 1995.
The Supreme Court of India established National Legal Services Day in 1995. Their goal was to assist and provide free legal assistance and support to the most vulnerable members of society. In addition, the Supreme Court wanted to commemorate the passage of the Legal Services Authorities Act.
The First Annual Meeting of the State Legal Services Authorities (NALSA) was held on September 12, 1998, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Dr. Justice AS Anand, then Executive Chairman of NALSA, presided over the meeting, as did Justice SB Majmudar, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, the Members of the Central Authority, and the Executive Chairmen and Member Secretaries of the State Legal Services Authorities.
The goal was to evaluate the progress of ongoing NALSA-initiated schemes. Along with that, decisions were made to strengthen and streamline the country’s legal aid programmes.
From October 2 to November 14, 2021, there was a six-week Pan India Legal Awareness and Outreach Campaign. This included door-to-door campaigns, legal awareness programmes, mobile van awareness, and legal aid clinic awareness.
The year was also marked by ‘Legal Services Week,’ which took place from November 8 to November 14. According to the official website of the Ministry of Law and Justice, over 38 crore citizens were surveyed, interacted with, or made aware of their rights. The National Legal Services Authority also organised a national-level event on Legal Services Day that year. The iOS version of the Legal Services Mobile Application was released at this time. Along with it, an online portal for filing Legal Aid applications was launched, which was made available in ten languages.
The Importance of Legal Services Day
Legal Service Day is observed to raise public awareness of the various provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act. It is also to remind them of the litigants’ rights.
These free legal services are provided in front of Civil, Criminal, and Revenue Courts, Tribunals, or any other judicial or quasi-judicial authority.
National Legal Services Day also seeks to empower the poor and vulnerable segments of society to seek and demand justice. In addition, key justice service providers must be able to effectively serve the poor and disadvantaged.
It is also a day when issues concerning the justice system can be raised and discussed in order to find solutions.
