UTTARAKHAND STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (SLSA) Highcourt Compound - Nainital

• The Link for NALSA: Legal Services App (For Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nalsa.lsmsapp & for iOS : https://apps.apple.com/in/app/nalsa-legal-services/id1592802734
• Legal Aid Information System (LAIS) to provide free online legal aid has been inaugurated by Hon’ble Dr. Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Hon’ble Justice, Supreme Court of India, on 06-03-2020.[http://uklegalaidservices.uk.gov.in]

History

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Article – 39A of the Constitution of India speaks for Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid. It states that “The State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.”

To fulfill this mandate of Article 39-A of the Constitution and establishing a nation-wide network for providing free and comprehensive legal services to the weaker sections of the society and also to secure and promote the philosophy of justice to all, the Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted in the year 1987. To make policy and implement the motto of “Access to Justice for All”, the National Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, State Legal Services Authority, High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authority and Tehsil Legal Services Committee have been established.

The Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority was constituted on March 20, 2002 under Section 6 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The establishment of the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority is temporarily being run from the High Court premises, Nainital. Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court is the Patron-in-Chief, while Hon’ble Senior Judge, of the Uttarakhand High Court is the Executive Chairman of the State Authority. A person belonging to the Uttarakhand Higher Judicial Service, not lower in rank than that of a District Judge, functions as the Member Secretary of the State Authority, to exercise such powers and perform such duties, as may be prescribed by the Government or as may be assigned to him by the Executive Chairman of the Authority.