NEW DELHI, Oct 23: The Supreme Court of India emphasized that raising awareness is crucial for the effective functioning of the legal aid system and mandated the implementation of robust measures to ensure that legal aid services reach the intended beneficiaries. A bench under the leadership of Justice B.R. Gavai emphasized the requirement that public spaces like police stations and bus stops prominently display contact information, including addresses and phone numbers of the closest legal aid offices, to improve access to legal aid, particularly for prisoners.
The court pointed out that for the legal aid mechanism to succeed, awareness among the public is essential. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), in cooperation with state and district legal services authorities, is required to ensure the efficient operation of standard procedures that provide legal assistance to jail inmates.
“Increasing awareness is the cornerstone of a well-functioning legal aid system,” the bench observed, noting that a comprehensive and periodically updated framework must be established. This framework would ensure that the beneficial schemes promoted by legal services authorities are accessible to all, especially to those whose grievances the system is designed to address.
Additionally, the court mandated the dissemination of adequate informational materials, including local-language literature, to help people better understand and access legal aid services. It further directed that promotional campaigns be launched via radio and Doordarshan in regional languages to effectively reach the target audience.
The bench called upon both the central and state governments to continue supporting legal services authorities at various levels, ensuring effective implementation of legal aid initiatives. It also directed the Supreme Court registry to forward a copy of the judgment to all High Courts for further action.
The court encouraged High Courts to consider issuing practice directions requiring all courts to append a cover sheet with copies of judgments that informs convicted individuals about the availability of free legal aid for pursuing appeals or higher legal remedies.
This decision follows a report by NALSA during a July hearing, which revealed that around 870 convicts across 18 states and Union territories were interested in filing appeals against their convictions after learning about free legal aid options. The Supreme Court has been addressing the broader issue of prison overcrowding and aims to ensure that prisoners are informed of their legal rights and can seek assistance for filing appeals.