The inaugural session featured Justice Goutam Bhaduri, who presided over the event, and special guest Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal. Both justices shared their insights on improving the quality of legal representation through the Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) system and addressing the evolving challenges in criminal defense.
Raipur: Recently, Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha emphasized the responsibility of legal aid defense counsels to provide high-quality legal assistance to marginalized and underprivileged communities.
Chief Justice Sinha highlighted the essential role of defense counsels in ensuring a fair trial and delivering justice to all societal segments. As the Patron-in-Chief of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (CGSLSA), he articulated these points during the inauguration of a three-day advanced training program for legal aid defense counsels at the Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy (CSJA) in Bilaspur on Sunday, where he was the chief guest.
The program, organized in collaboration with the CSJA, aims to equip legal aid defense counsels from 23 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) across the state with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively represent indigent clients and uphold the principles of fair trials and justice.
The inaugural session featured Justice Goutam Bhaduri, who presided over the event, and special guest Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal. Both justices shared their insights on improving the quality of legal representation through the Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) system and addressing the evolving challenges in criminal defense.
Shirajuddin Qureshi, director of CSJA, discussed the mission and objectives of the training initiative in his welcome address. The event was attended by the registrar general and officers of the High Court registry, directors and officers of the CSJA, member secretary, and officers from the SLSA.
The Indian constitution’s preamble seeks to provide the people of India with fairness, both socioeconomic and political. The Indian constitution’s Articles 38 and 39A are noteworthy.
Article 38(1) states that the state shall promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting the social order, including justice, and Article 39-A states that the state shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, through appropriate legislation or schemes, to ensure that no citizen’s opportunities for securing justice are denied.
When the Legal Services Authorities Act went into force in 1995, it made free legal services available throughout India to people who are socially and economically poor. One of the key components of the legislation, which seeks to provide equal access to justice for all, mandates pro bono attorneys and advocates to give their services free of charge to those who cannot afford it.
In practise, however, it is extremely difficult, preventing it from reaching its full potential and denying the poor access to high-quality justice.
In Sheela Barse vs. State of Maharashtra, It was decided that providing legal help to a poor accused who has been detained and placed in danger of losing his life or personal liberty is a fundamental need stipulated not only by article 39-A but also by articles 21 and 14 of the constitution.
Legal aid in India refers to the provision of free legal services to individuals who are unable to afford legal representation or access to the justice system. The primary objective of legal aid is to ensure that justice is accessible to all, regardless of their financial circumstances. Here are some key points about legal aid in India.
Constitutional Right: The right to legal aid is enshrined in Article 39A of the Indian Constitution, which states that the State shall provide free legal aid to ensure that opportunities for obtaining justice are not taken away from any citizen due to economic or other disabilities.
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: The Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted in 1987 to provide a statutory framework for the provision of legal aid in India. Under this act, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) were established at the national and state levels, respectively.
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