Legal Aid & Schemes – SC directions to create awareness throughout length and breadth of the nation
In order to fulfil the mandate of Article 39-A of the Directive Principles of State Policy for Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid, the Supreme Court has issued in all 16 directions including two salutary –
The High Court to consider practice direction that all the courts including High Court may append a coversheet about availability of free legal aid facilities to pursue higher remedies, contact address & phone number of the legal aid committee, on the reverse of copy of the judgment of conviction / dismissal / reversal acquittal / dismissal of bail applications.
Similar information may be made available in the court notices issued to the respondents in appeals against acquittal.
To create awareness and spread message of availability of legal aid – display boards in local language & English at prominent places like police stations, post offices, bus stands, railway stations for contact and phone numbers of the nearest legal aid office.
Promotional campaigns in Doordarshan / Radio / All India Radio on availability of legal aid.
Order dated 23.10.2024 of the Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition No.1082 of 2020 of Suhas Chakma Vs. Union of India and others