Chief Justice opens legal aid system offices at 6 district headquarters.

January 12, 2023

Chief Justice Amjad A. Sayed, inaugurated Legal Aid Defence Counsel System offices through video-conferencing in six districts headquarters of Shimla, Sirmaur (Nahan), Solan, Kangra (Dharamsala), Kullu and
A Legal Aid Defence Counsel System has been initiated for providing legal aid, assistance and representation in criminal matters in line with the Public Defender System.
It provides legal advice and assistance to all individuals visiting its office and that of the District Legal Services Authority. Besides, it helps in representation, conducting trial and appeals, including all miscellaneous work in the criminal courts such as Court of Session, special courts and Judicial Magistrate courts.
At the first instance, the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System was conceived to be implemented at 12 places, on a pilot project basis, by the National Legal Services Authority.
On its successful implementation, it is now being extended to 365 places in District Legal Services Authorities of 22 states.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) had set a target for each State Legal Services Authority to identify 50 per cent of District Legal Services Authorities for running the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System at the district headquarters.
The HP State Legal Services Authority is thus ahead of the target as the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System has been inaugurated at six district headquarters.