Q. In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?

  1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000
  2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000
  3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000
  4. All Senior Citizens

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 3 and 4 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 4 only

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Notes:
  • The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 states that those persons who have an annual income of less than the amount prescribed by the respective State Government, or if the case is before any court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 5 Lakhs, if the case is before the Supreme Court, are eligible for free legal aid
  • For most of the States, NALSA covers Persons whose annual income does not exceed ₹ 1 lakh.
  • For Delhi, there is mention of the Income ceiling for transgender in the NALSA Portal, which is ₹ 2 lakh.
  • There is no such provision of free legal aid specifically for OBC.
  • The free Legal Aid is not available for free for all senior citizens.
Additional Information:
  • The sections of the society as enlisted under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act are entitled to free legal services, they are :
    • A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
    • A victim of trafficking in human beings or beggar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution
    • A woman or a child
    • A mentally ill or otherwise disabled person;
    • A person under circumstances of undeserved want such as being a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster; or
    • An industrial workman; or
    • In custody, including custody in a protective home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956(104 of 1956
    • In a juvenile home within the meaning of clause(j) of Section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986
    • In a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric nursing home within the meaning of clause (g) of Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, 1987(14 of 1987)
    • A person in receipt of annual income less than the amount mentioned in the following schedule (or any other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government), if the case is before a Court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs 5 Lakh, if the case is before the Supreme Court.