The Supreme Court on Wednesday has emphasized the importance of awareness in the success of the legal aid mechanism, calling for a robust system to ensure that beneficial schemes from legal services authorities reach all individuals.
A bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai issued several directions aimed at enhancing legal aid for prisoners, highlighting the need for greater visibility of legal resources.
The court directed that the addresses and phone numbers of the nearest legal aid offices should be prominently displayed in public places such as police stations and bus stands.
It stated that the National Legal Services Authority, in collaboration with state and district legal services authorities, must ensure that the standard operating procedures for providing legal aid to inmates are effectively implemented.
“We have also said that for the success of the functioning of the legal aid mechanism, awareness is the key,” the bench remarked. It stressed the necessity of creating a robust and regularly updated mechanism to disseminate information about various schemes promoted by legal services authorities, particularly to those whose grievances these schemes aim to address.
The court further called for the development of adequate informational literature in local languages across states, along with appropriate promotional methods to ensure that those in need can fully utilize these legal aid services.
It suggested promotional campaigns be conducted in local languages through mediums such as radio and Doordarshan.
The bench instructed both the Centre and state governments to continue supporting legal services authorities at various levels to ensure effective implementation of these measures.
Additionally, it directed the apex court registry to send a copy of its judgment to all high courts.
In its ruling, the court recommended that high courts consider issuing practice directions requiring all courts to include a cover sheet with judgments related to conviction, dismissal, or bail applications. This cover sheet would inform convicts about the availability of free legal aid for pursuing higher legal remedies.
During a previous hearing in July, NALSA informed the Supreme Court that approximately 870 convicts in jails across 18 states and Union territories expressed a desire to file appeals against their convictions after learning about the availability of free legal aid.
This ruling comes amidst ongoing discussions about overcrowding in jails, underscoring the Supreme Court’s commitment to improving access to justice for all individuals, particularly those incarcerated.
The measures outlined aim to bridge the gap between legal services and the communities they serve, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to seek legal recourse.
