Justice Ramana Releases Handbook for Effective Legal Services

Justice NV Ramana, Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on June 4 released “Handbook of Formats: Ensuring Effective Legal Services” at a webinar in the presence of Executive Chairpersons of State Legal Services Authorities, Chairpersons of High Court Legal Services Committees and Member Secretaries of all State Legal Services Authorities, Chairpersons and Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities.

In his keynote address, Justice Ramana observed that the global pandemic had presented unanticipated challenges to everyone, including the Legal Services Authorities. But in spite of the same, the Legal Services Authorities had carried out tremendous activities by adopting the latest technology. As many as 58,797 undertrial prisoners and 20,972 convicts on parole, etc had been released with the assistance of the Legal Services Institutions and legal representation had been provided to 9,558 persons at the remand stage. Legal aid and assistance had also been provided in 1,559 domestic violence cases to women; 16,391 convicts; 1,882 labourers; 310 tenants, amongst others. It was also being ensured that Toll free National Legal Helpline 15100 remained fully functional so that no person in need of justice was denied the same. Legal Services Authorities had organised hundreds of webinars across various states and were utilising cost-effective tools, such as social media, community radio stations, local cable television channels and other digital platforms to increase outreach.

Justice Ramana further said that it was imperative that legal aid providers were able to document and report their interventions which was essential to effectuate the various
NALSA schemes and frameworks.

The Handbook is the first crucial step towards standardizing and bringing in uniformity in the use of formats for appointment/assignment letters, duty notes, reporting to Legal Services Institutions, etc. It will thus help the Legal Services Authorities in the management of human resources and will play a crucial role in access to justice in the future.

For more details, read the press release below: