National Legal Services Day is an annual event celebrated in India on 9th November to commemorate the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. This act was passed by the Supreme Court of India to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. The aim of this day is to spread awareness about the availability and accessibility of legal aid and to empower the marginalized through legal awareness.

Why is National Legal Services Day Celebrated?

The Constitution of India guarantees the right to equality, justice and dignity for all its citizens. However, due to various social and economic barriers, many people are unable to access the justice system and protect their rights. They may face discrimination, exploitation, violence, corruption, or ignorance of the law. They may also lack the financial resources, legal knowledge, or confidence to seek legal help.

To address these challenges, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted to establish a nationwide network of legal services institutions, such as the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), and the Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs).

These institutions are responsible for providing free legal aid, advice, and representation to the eligible persons, such as women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, victims of human trafficking, persons in custody, etc. They also conduct legal awareness camps, seminars, workshops, and publications to educate the public about their legal rights and duties. Moreover, they organize Lok Adalats, which are alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, where cases are settled through conciliation and compromise, without any court fees or formalities.

By celebrating National Legal Services Day, the legal services institutions aim to highlight their achievements, challenges, and future plans. They also seek to reach out to the masses and encourage them to avail the benefits of legal aid and Lok Adalats. They also collaborate with various stakeholders, such as the judiciary, the government, the civil society, the media, the academia, and the corporate sector, to promote the cause of justice for all.

Who Started National Legal Services Day?

National Legal Services Day was first observed in 1995, after the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 came into force on 9th November, 1995. The act was adopted by India in 1987, following the recommendations of the Justice P.N. Bhagwati Committee, which was appointed by the Supreme Court of India in 1970 to examine the feasibility of providing legal aid to the economically weaker sections.

The committee suggested that legal aid should be regarded as a part of the constitutional mandate of ensuring social justice and upholding human rights.

The act was also inspired by the principles of the United Nations, which declared 1975-1985 as the Decade of Human Rights, and adopted the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers in 1990, which affirmed the right of everyone to legal assistance and the duty of the state to provide adequate legal services.

The act was implemented by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which was constituted under the act and is headed by the Chief Justice of India as the Patron-in-Chief and a senior judge of the Supreme Court as the Executive Chairman.

The NALSA is the apex body for legal services in the country and is responsible for framing policies, guidelines, and schemes for legal aid and Lok Adalats. The NALSA also monitors and evaluates the functioning of the state and district legal services authorities and provides them with financial and technical assistance.

The History of National Legal Services Day

Since its inception, National Legal Services Day has been celebrated with various themes and activities to raise awareness and sensitization about legal aid and Lok Adalats. Some of the notable themes and events of the past years are:

• In 1996, the theme was “Legal Aid to the Poor and the Disadvantaged”.
• In 1997, the theme was “Legal Literacy for Empowering the People”.
• In 1998, the second annual meet of the state legal services authorities was held at Hyderabad, where the Chief Justice of India inaugurated a national legal literacy mission and launched a legal aid helpline.
• In 1999, the theme was “Legal Services to the Victims of Violence”.
• In 2000, the theme was “Legal Services to the Weaker Sections of the Society”.
• In 2001, the theme was “Legal Services to the Women and Children”.
• In 2002, the theme was “Legal Services to the Persons with Disabilities”.
• In 2003, the theme was “Legal Services to the Senior Citizens”.
• In 2004, the theme was “Legal Services to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes”.
• In 2005, the theme was “Legal Services to the Victims of Human Trafficking”.
• In 2006, the theme was “Legal Services to the Persons in Custody”.
• In 2007, the theme was “Legal Services to the Consumers”.
• In 2008, the theme was “Legal Services to the Workers”.
• In 2009, the theme was “Legal Services to the Environment”.
• In 2010, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Information”.
• In 2011, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Education”.
• In 2012, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Health”.
• In 2013, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Food”.
• In 2014, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Housing”.
• In 2015, the theme was “Legal Services to the Right to Livelihood”.
• In 2016, the theme was “Connecting to Serve”.
• In 2017, the theme was “Strengthening Legal Aid for Access to Justice”.
• In 2018, the theme was “Empowering the Marginalized through Legal Awareness”.
• In 2019, the theme was “Legal Services for Empowering People”.
• In 2020, the theme was “Legal Services for Resolving Disputes through Lok Adalats”.
• In 2021, the theme was “Legal Services for Ensuring Effective and Meaningful Legal Representation”.
• In 2022, the theme was “Legal Services for Promoting and Protecting Human Rights”.
• In 2023, the theme is “Legal Services for Advancing and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”.

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