UNIT 5 Reforms In the Legal System for achieving Effective and Speedy Resolution Of Dispute Acts Introduced for Effective and Speedy Resolution Of Dispute There have been many major structural changes (post independence) in the judicial system. The major changes can be categorized as below: 1) The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)Act NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal services available under the Act. It functions in different ways: The NALSA issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the Legal Aid Programmes and schemes throughout the country. Primarily, the State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities, Taluka Legal Services Committees, etc. have been asked to discharge the following two main functions on regular basis:- i. To Provide Free Legal Services to the eligible persons; and ii. To organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. Article 39-A of the Constitution which was inserted by the Constitution (Forty second) Amendment Act, 1976 casts an obligation on the State to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and in particular, provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that the opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. Besides, the right to free legal aid has now been included as part of right to life and personal liberty guaranted under Article 21 ofs the Constitution. With a view to accomplishing this objective, the Government of India appointed, a committee for implementing the legal aid schemes in 1980. This committee was headed by Mr. Justice P.M. Bhagwati. The committee prepared a draft-legal aid programme which could be applicable throughout India. It is on the basis of the recommendations and the draft outlined by this Committee that the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, was passed to establish Statutory Legal Services Authorities. It also contained provisions relating to Lok Adalats. Object of the Act : The main object of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 is to provide free and competent legal services to the poor and weaker sections of the society so as to
ensure that they are not denied the opportunities for securing justice by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organise Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity. Entitlement to Legal Services : Section 13 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides that persons who satisfy all or any of the criteria specified in Section 12 shall be entitled to avail legal services provided that the concerned Legal Aid authority is satisfied that such person has a prima facie case to prosecute or to defend. The person concerned is required to file an affidavit stating that he is entitled to legal services under the Act. Section 12 of the Act enumerates the categories of persons who are entitled to legal services. These are as follows a) A person who is a member of Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; b) A victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution of India; c) A woman or a child; d) A person who is disabled as defined in Section 2(i) of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995; e) A victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or +industrial disaster; f) an industrial workman; g) a person who is in custody under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956; Juvenile Justice (Protection and care and children) Act, 2000, Mental Health Act, 1987; h) A person whose annual income is less than Rs.9,000/- or a higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government, and less than Rs.12,000/- hen the case is before the Supreme Court. In addition to the above, legal services may also be granted in cases of great public importance and in special cases which are considered deserving of legal services. Cases for which legal aid is not available : The cases coming under any of the following category shall not entitle a person to receive legal aid from the State : 1) Cases involving the offence of defamation, malicious prosecution, contempt of Court, perjury etc. 2) Proceedings relating to elections; 3) Cases in which the fine imposed is not more than Rupees fifty; 4) Economic offences and offences against social laws; 5) Cases where the person seeking legal aid is not directly concerned with the proceedings and whose interests will not be affected, if not represented properly. Withdrawal of Legal Aid/Services : The Legal Aid Committee has the power to withdraw the legal aid/services granted to a person under the following circumstances :
1) Where the aid is obtained through misrepresentation or fraud; 2) Any material change occurs in the circumstances of the person to whom such legal aid was granted; 3) In case of misconduct, misbehaviour or negligence on the part of the aided person; 4) Where the aided person does not co-operate with the allotted lawyer or counsel; 5) If the aided person appoints another legal practitioner; 6) In case of death except in civil cases; 7) Where the proceedings amount to misuse of the process of law or of legal services : Where the legal services are withdrawn, the Legal Aid Committee may recover the cost of legal services granted. However, the person aggrieved has a right to appeal before the Chairman of the Legal Aid Committee. 2) LEGAL AID Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all. Article 14 and 22(1) of the constitution also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity to all, In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came into force on 9th November, 1995 with an object to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity. i. 3) LOK ADALATS Lok Adalat is a forum where the disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at prelitigation stage are settled/compromised amicably. The Lok Adalat has been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under this Act, an award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies against thereto before any court. Steps have been taken to render legal aid to the needy and the poor by way of holding Lok Adalats, organising Conferences etc.
The Lok Adalat movement in the country has been strengthened. Up to December 31, 2007, more than 6,98,000 Lok Adalats have been held in the different parts of the country wherein 1,86,00,000 cases have been settled. In about 14.25 lakh cases of Motor Vehicles Accident Claims have been resolved. 4) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE REDRESSAL (ADR) In order to reduce the heavy demand on Court time, efforts need to be made to resolve the disputes by resorting to Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods before they enter the portals of the court. The Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation are tools of Alternative Dispute Redressal System. 5) ARBITRATION Arbitration is a process in which a neutral third party or parties render a decision based on the merits of the case. In the Indian context the scope of the rules for the arbitration process are set out broadly by the provisions of the arbitration and Conciliation Act 1998 and in the areas uncovered by the Statute the parties are free to design an arbitration process appropriate and relevant to their disputes. 6) MEDIATION The Process of mediation aims to facilitate the development of a consensual solution by the disputing parties. The Mediation process is overseen by a non-partisan third Justice and Law 669 party - the Mediator. The authority of the mediator vests on the consent of the parties that he should facilitate their negotiations. 7) CONCILIATION This is a process by which resolution of disputes is achieved by compromise or voluntary agreement. In contrast to arbitration, the conciliator does not render a binding award. The parties are free to accept or reject the recommendations of the conciliator. This Department provides annual recurring Grants-in-aid to National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) NALSA is a statutory body. The International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) was set up by the Department of Legal Affairs as an autonomous body Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The main object of the ICADR is to promote popularize and propagate Alternative Dispute Resolution to facilitate early resolution of disputes so as to reduce the burden of arrears in the Courts. 8) THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT The Right to Information Act, 2005 has been implemented in the Department. Information Officers and Appellate officers have also been appointed. The act empowers people with the right to know the publically transparent process. This law is a strong step towards making the government process more transparent and less effected from corruption.
. The National Legal Literacy Mission was launched by the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) for the benefit of millions of poor and disadvantaged sections of the society. Under the Lok Adalat System About 6.40 lakh Lok Adalats have been held throughout the country in which more than 2.39 crores cases have been settled.