Executive Chairperson Of The National Legal Services Authority:
The President recently nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
- NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
- The prime objective of NALSA is the speedy disposal of cases and reducing the burden on the judiciary.
- The Chief Justice of India is the patron-in-chief of NALSA, while the second senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman.
- It is housed at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
- In every State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services Committee has been constituted.
- District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees have been constituted in the Districts and most of the Taluks to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA, and to provide free legal services to the people, and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.
- NALSA, through the State Legal Services Authorities, also conducts legal literacy programmes.
- The free legal services include:
- Payment of court fees, process fees, and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal proceedings;
- Providing the service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
- Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and other documents in legal proceedings.
- Preparation of appeal, paper book, including printing and translation of documents in legal proceedings.
