According to Section 2(c) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, “legal services” includes any service in the conduct of any case or other legal proceeding before any court or other authority or tribunal and the giving of advice on any legal matter. Free legal aid is the provision of free legal services in civil and criminal matters for those poor and marginalized people who cannot afford the services of a lawyer for the conduct of a case or a legal proceeding in any Court, Tribunal or Authority. The free legal services include representation by an Advocate in legal proceedings, preparation of cases, paper book including printing and translation of documents in legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee is constituted under Section 3 A of the Legal Services Authorities Act to provide free and competent legal services to thosewho fall within the purview of Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 in the cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
No. Legal Services provided by the SCLSC are completely free of costs.
You may approach the SCLSC personally, By post,Through SCLSC portal, through Other legal services authorities including High court Legal Service Authority, District legal service Authority, Taluka Legal Service Authority and the Jail authorities.
Yes, the personal information of the clients approaching the SCLSC is kept confidential.
You can submit your feedback on the official SCLSC Portal.
As per the Resolution dated 05.08.2013 passed by the SCLSC, legal aid to file curative petition is granted only in matters relating to case in which decision is sentence of life imprisonment or sentence of death is passed.
Yes, you may approach through SCLSC Portal.
The sections of the society as enlisted under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act are entitled for free legal services (Link)
A victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution
No, the application for grant of legal services has to be accompanied by the Affidavit sworn by the person seeking grant of legal aid and an Affidavit cannot be made on behalf of some other person. Therefore, the application for grant of legal aid can be made only by the person who is willing to file a petition and not by any other person on his behalf.
Yes, you may apply for legal aid along with the NOC and paper book of the case.
Yes, If you belong to the category eligible for grant of Legal Aid.
Yes, if he satisfies the eligibility criteria of Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act.
A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;A person belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe is eligible for grant of legal aid.
No, A member of Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribes shall be granted legal aid irrespective of his employment and income
Yes, a woman is eligible for grant of legal aid irrespective of her employment and income.
By Post or By applying on SCLSC Portal or by physically Visiting the front office of SCLSC
A child is eligible for free legal aid till the age of majority i.e. 18 years.
A child can apply for grant of legal aid through the natural guardian or the legal guardian.
Yes you can apply by applying to the concerned territorial authority as per your district(District legal service Authority)
Yes you may apply through the Jail authorities along with the legal aid formal application and custody certificate.
You may connect via video conferencing facility through the Jail Authority and can virtually meet the SCLSC authorities or the concerned Panel Advocate.
The Legal Aid is granted if you are eligible under some category other than person in jail.
Yes, if he satisfies the eligibility criteria of Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act.
The grant of Legal Aid can be considered for filing Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court against any interlocutory order including the rejection of Bail.
The annual income should be less than 5 lakhs for seeking legal aid with SCLSC.
You can file the application on the Official Portal of SCLSC or send the application along with the requisite documents by speed post on the postal address of SCLSC or visit the Front Office of SCLSC and submit the application. However all the applications, received will be uploaded and merged in the official portal of SCLSC
Yes. If you belong to the category eligible for grant of Legal Aid.(Link)
Once an applicant satisfies the essentials under section 12 of the National Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 and submits all the requisite documents as prescribed,: • The application is submitted with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, it would be scrutinized and examined by the screening committee (Legal Counsel-cum-consultant In case of miscellaneous applications) as to what action is needed upon the same. • Once a legal opinion is received from the Senior Advocates (Screening Committee) that the case is fit case to proceed, then the competent authority takes decision as per the recommendations. • If the Legal Aid is granted on the recommendation by the Screening Committee or on the opinion of LSC then the matter is assigned to the Panel Advocate. • The applications rejected are returned alongwith documents after approval by the competent authority.
Screening Committee comprises of Senior Advocate and is constituted to examine the merits of Legal Aid cases in SCLSC. • Cases involving imprisonment for a term of more than 10 years are directly processed for filing before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. • Rest of the matters goes to Screening Committee to determine whether the case is fit to be taken by SCLSC.
Once the application is selected, the applicant is given intimation about the assignment of a lawyer through sms and email.
6 Whom should a person contact after filing of the case with the Hon'ble Supreme Court through SCLSC
The person may contact the panel lawyer to whom his matter has been assigned.
A person can check the status of his application submitted to SCLSC by sending a letter addressed to the Ld. Secretary, by phone, by e-mail and also on the SCLSC portal.
The first step for submitting a Legal Aid Application is to click the E-SERVICES option on the home page of the application and select “E-filing”. (Screenshot)
The Legal Aid application can be submitted 24x7 and even on public holidays.
Category means the eligibility of a person applying for Legal Aid as per section 12 of Legal Services Authority.
The Personal details of the Legal Aid applicant are required to be mentioned against each column and those provided in “*” are mandatory to be filled for successful submission. (Screenshot)
Your application shall not be processed further.
After clicking on “save” when the personal details are filled the next page is opened where the requisite documents are required to be uploaded and thereafter the application shall be submitted.
The next step is the scrutiny of the Legal Aid applications. (Screenshot)
The documents are to be converted into Pdf form and uploaded on the portal.
The requisite documents are provided in the checklist (Link)
You will get a receipt having a provisional number of the application submitted along with receipt number. (receipt format)
The incomplete Legal aid applications or the Legal aid applications with incomplete documents shall be rejected as per the decision of NALSA taken in the year 2015.
The scrutiny of the Legal Aid application and the documents is done. The ANR number is generated and it is processed for grant of Legal Aid for appointment of Panel Advocate after approval of competent authority. (format)
The Ld. Secretary, SCLSC is the competent authority.
The procedure regarding the Legal Aid applications will normally be completed within 7 days.
The documents provided in the checklist are required to be submitted. The Legal Aid application forms and the custody certificate are required to be attested by the jail authority and be sent in original after applying on the SCLSC Portal. (link) SLP (Crl.) documents)
The person in prison can approach the jail authority or the High Court Legal Services Committee or District Legal Services Authority or Taluka Legal Services Authority for the purpose of completing and forwarding his legal aid application.
The grant of Legal Aid can be denied if prima facie (technically or on merits) case is not made out to be filed before the Supreme Court.
The Legal Aid applicant will get the sms for each stage of processing of the application.
The Legal Aid applicant can prefer an appeal to the Hon’ble Chairman under regulation 12(6) of SCLSC Regulations against the rejection of Legal Aid Applications.
The Screening Committee consists of a Senior Advocate to examine the Legal Aid application on merits as per the NALSA (free and competent) Legal Services Regulation, 2010
At the earliest and if possible within 15 days.
It means that the Legal Aid application is pending with the Screening Committee for scrutiny and Examination.
It means that the SCLSC has prior to assigning the matter to the Panel Advocate has sent the matter to the Supreme Court Registry to ensure that no identical previous case has been filed.
Legal aid can be rejected/ withdrawn if: • The screening committee is of opinion that the case is not fit to proceed. • The aided person who applied under the income category is found to possess sufficient means; • The aided person obtained legal services by misrepresentation or fraud; • The aided person does not cooperate with the Legal Services Authority/Committee or with the legal services advocate; • The person engages a legal practitioner other than the one assigned by the Legal Services Authority/Committee; • In the event of death of the aided person except in the case of civil proceedings where the right or liability survives; • 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.
The applicant whose application for grant of legal services has been rejected may prefer an appeal before the Chairman for a decision under Regulation 12(6). The decision of Hon’ble Chairman is final.
There is no format prescribed to submit appeal to the Hon’ble Chairman.
The applicant may submit formal application with ANR/reference number for change of panel advocate and competent authority will consider the request.
Yes, after seeking an appointment on SCLSC portal.
Yes after giving No Objection Certificate (NOC). If the case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court, then NOC from the previous lawyer is mandatory.
Yes, after seeking appointment.
Yes, after giving NOC Certificate.
Yes, if he satisfies the eligibility criteria of Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act.
Yes, if he satisfies the eligibility criteria of Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act.
Yes, if he satisfies the eligibility criteria of Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act.
A panel advocate is an Advocate on Record or a non-Advocate on record who is empanelled in the panel list of SCLSC. There is a List of Senior Advocates empanelled with SCLSC
At present the eligibility for empanelment on the SCLSC Panel, for Advocate on Record is 5 years standing at Bar and 7 years standing for Non-Advocate on Record.
Yes, at present the following honorarium is being paid to the Panel Advocate: a. Rs.10,000/- at the time of filing of the matter in the first appearance. b. Rs.5,000/- if the Hon’ble Supreme Court is pleased to issue notice in the matter. c. Rs. 10,000/- if the matter is finally disposed after grant of leave. d. All litigation expenses apart from the above mentioned honorarium. e. The Senior Advocate argues the matter on Pro Bono basis (free of cost)
The advocate on the panel of Non AOR can file the legal aid cases in the Supreme Court through the legal services counsel-cum-consultant.
The SCLSC issues/circular which is uploaded on the website and is affixed on the notice board of the Hon’ble Supreme Court calling for the applications of the advocates desires to be empanelled. The empanelment is considered by the Sub-Committee after scrutiny of application. The panel prepared is normally valid for 2 years.
Mediator is an impartial and neutral person trained in mediation who manages interaction between the parties and facilitates communication between them to bring them to a mutually agreed settlement of disputes.
A person who undergoes the required 40 hours training as stipulated by the mediation and conciliation project committee of supreme court of India and who has completed 10 mediations resulting in a settlement is eligible to be accredited as a qualified mediator.
The Front office is open from Monday to Friday-10a.m to 5 p.m and Saturday- 10a.m to 1 p.m..
Yes, application can be filed on line or can be sent by post.
The person seeking information with regard to SCLSC may submit application.
Any information as per section 2 (f) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
30 days as per Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005
The applicant can file the First Appeal before the First Appellate Authority of the SCLSC i.e. namely, Hon. Secretary of SCLSC.
The appellant may file second appeal under section 19 (3) before the Central Information Commission within 1 month.
The applicant can file the First Appeal before the First Appellate Authority of the SCLSC i.e. namely, Hon. Secretary of SCLSC.
Yes. Rs.10/- either in cash or by way of IPO/Bank Draft.
Address for the Front Office of SCLSC is Chamber No.107, R.K. Jain Block, Supreme Court Compound, TilakMarg, New Delhi. Address for Main office of SCLSC is: Room No.124 to 128, B-Block, First Floor, New Additional Building Complex, Supreme Court of India, Mathura Road, Near Supreme Court Metro Station.
Yes. Main Office Contact No.: 011 23116353, 01123116354 Front Office Contact No.: 011 23381257
Yes. SCLSC can be contacted through email i.e. sclsc@nic.in and SCLSC portal.