Justice Surya Kant Meets HC Chief Justices To Boost Legal Aid For Prison Inmates

Legal Services Committees

Justice Surya Kant, a Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), led a significant review meeting with Chief Justices of High Courts and Chairpersons of State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and High Court Legal Services Committees.

The meeting aimed to assess the ongoing efforts to provide legal aid to prisoners across the country and ensure that no eligible inmate is left without legal assistance.

Legal Aid Campaign Begins In Indian Prisons

On January 10, 2025, the SCLSC, in collaboration with prison authorities and the SLSAs, launched a special campaign aimed at identifying prisoners eligible for legal assistance. The initiative was a nationwide effort to ensure access to justice for those who have been unable to afford legal representation. A total of 4,216 inmates were identified as eligible to receive legal aid through the SCLSC.

Virtual Meeting To Facilitate Legal Aid Distribution

Following the campaign, Justice Kant conducted a virtual meeting on April 1, 2025, with the Chief Justices of High Courts across India. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure that the identified inmates received the necessary documents, including paper books, to facilitate their legal aid applications. Justice Kant urged the High Courts to take proactive steps in reaching out to the inmates and sending the required documents to the SCLSC for further processing. As a result, more than 3,900 inmates expressed their interest in receiving legal aid from the SCLSC.

Progress & Current Status

In a follow-up meeting with the Chief Justices, Justice Kant provided an update on the campaign’s progress. Over 800 paper books had already been received by the SCLSC, and legal aid had been granted in nearly 300 cases. Justice Kant emphasized the importance of continuing the momentum and requested the SLSAs to urgently send the necessary documentation for the remaining cases.

Court’s Statement

“The campaign, designed to facilitate access to legal remedies before the Supreme Court for eligible inmates, has gained remarkable traction. To date, over 834 cases have been received by the SCLSC, and panel advocates have already been appointed for those with complete documentation.”

To ensure a quicker resolution of pending cases, Justice Kant issued several key directives to streamline the process:

Expedited Document Transmission

The HCLSCs were instructed to send pending paper books using Special Messengers, ensuring that documents are delivered promptly, even during weekends and holidays.

Each HCLSC is now tasked with appointing a nodal officer in every district. These officers will act as primary points of contact for the SCLSC, addressing any document-related issues and ensuring that communication flows smoothly between the two bodies.

HCLSCs were also advised to counsel inmates who initially refused legal aid, stressing the quality of representation they could receive through the SCLSC and the importance of their access to justice.

Commitment To Justice For All

“This initiative, driven by Justice Kant’s leadership, highlights the judiciary’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their incarceration status, has access to justice,” the Supreme Court’s statement concluded.

Through this ongoing effort, the SCLSC, along with High Courts and Legal Services Authorities, is working tirelessly to guarantee that the legal rights of incarcerated individuals are upheld, ensuring fairness and access to justice across the country.