পোস্ট আবেদন প্রক্রিয়া

1. What is the procedure after my application is submitted with the Legal Services Institutions?

2. What is the procedure after my application is selected/legal aid is granted?

3. What is the average time taken for an application to be processed and for an individual to be assigned a free legal aid lawyer?

4. How will I get an intimation/information of the acceptance, success, failure, etc. of my application? By email, SMS or Courier?

1. 1. If the application was made physically at the front office of any Legal Services Authority, an address (either residential or email) for correspondence is usually noted and information regarding the application is sent to the same.
2. 2. If the application is made online via the NALSA website or the online portals of the Legal Services Authorities, an application number is generated and the appropriate Legal Services Authority is contacted. The applicant can track the status of the application on the online portal itself. 
3. 3. If the application has been received from Government Departments / CPGRAM, an email is sent to the applicant. The applicant can also get a scanned copy of the application on the CPGRAM website. Remarks regarding the application are also made on CPGRAM website and the website of the Legal Services Authority.

5. When can Legal Aid be Denied or Withdrawn?

1. 1. Legal aid can be denied if a person is found ineligible under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
2. 2. Legal aid can be withdrawn if the aided person who applied under the income category is found to possess sufficient means;
3. 3. Legal aid can be withdrawn where the aided person obtained legal services by misrepresentation or fraud;
4. 4. Legal aid can be withdrawn where the aided person does not cooperate with the Legal Services Authority/Committee or with the legal services advocate;
5. 5. Legal aid can be withdrawn where the person engages a legal practitioner other than the one assigned by the Legal Services Authority/Committee;
6. 6. Legal aid can be withdrawn in the event of death of the aided person except in the case of civil proceedings where the right or liability survives;
   7. Legal aid can be withdrawn where the application for legal service or the matter in question is found to be an abuse of the process of law or of legal services.

6. Can I appeal if the free legal services are denied to me?

7. Whom can I Approach if I want to Complain against the Conduct of a Legal Services Authority?

1. 1. The National Legal Services Authority is the central authority and is headed by the the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India as its Patron-in-Chief, the second senior most judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is the ExecutiveChairman and a District Judge level Judicial Officer is the Member Secretary.
2. 2. The State Legal Services Authorities are headed by the Chief Justices of their respective High Courts as their Patron-in- Chiefs, and the second senior most Judge of the respective High Courts as their Executive Chairman. They also have Member Secretaries heading the respective State Legal Services Authorities.
3. 3. The High Court Legal Services Committees are headed by a sitting Judge of the respective High Court as their Chairman.
4. 4. The respective District Legal Services Authorities are headed by a District Judge as their Chairman.
5. 5. The respective Taluk Legal Services Committeesare headed by a Senior Judge as their Chairman.

8. What is the procedure if I am unhappy with the conduct of the lawyer assigned to me by a Legal Services Authority? Can I complain against him/her? Can he be replaced?

1. 1. Writing a simple paper application and submitting the same to a Legal Services Authority;
2. 2. Writing an email to the appropriate authority or NALSA (at nalsa-dla@nic.in);
3. 3. Accessing the “Grievance Redressal” option on NALSA website (https://nalsa.gov.in/) or the respective website of the authority that assigned the lawyer.