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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the national conference on “Strengthening the legal aid delivery mechanism” at the Supreme Court on November 8, government officials said on Thursday.
During the event, PM Modi will launch the Community Mediation Training Module prepared by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he will also address the gathering on this occasion.
The two-day conference organized by NALSA will deliberate on key aspects of the legal services framework, including legal aid defense consultancy system, panel lawyers, para-legal volunteers, Permanent Lok Adalat and financial management of legal service institutions.
Established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA aims to provide free legal aid and ensure access to justice for the marginalized and deprived sections of the society.
Article 39A of the Indian Constitution, a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, deals with the promotion of justice and free legal aid.
Article 39A provides that “The State shall ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide for free legal aid by appropriate legislation or schemes or in any other manner so as to ensure that no citizen is deprived of opportunities to secure justice by reason of economic or other disabilities”.
Currently, apex court judge Justice Surya Kant serves as the acting chairman of the National Legal Services Authority.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the patron-chief of NALSA.
In each State, State Legal Services Authorities have been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of NALSA and to provide free legal service aid to the people and to operate Lok Adalats.
The State Legal Services Authority is headed by the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, who is the Patron-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority.
The senior most judge of the High Court is designated as the acting Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority.
–IANS