Free Legal Aid/Services by the Government/NALSA are provided only to those individuals
that fulfil the
eligibility criteria as per Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The following persons are entitled for Free Legal Aid/Services:
1. What is the income limit set by different States as eligibility criteria for Free Legal Aid?
Ans. The Income Ceiling Limit prescribed u/S 12(h) of the Act for availing Free Legal Services in different States has been stated below:
S. No. |
States/Union Territories |
Income Ceiling Limit (Per Annum) |
1. |
Andhra Pradesh |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
2. |
Arunachal Pradesh |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
3. |
Assam |
Rs. 3, 00, 000/- |
4. |
Bihar |
Rs. 1,50,000/- |
5. |
Chhattisgarh |
Rs. 1,50,000/- |
6. |
Goa |
Rs.3,00,000/- |
7. |
Gujarat |
Rs.1,00,000/- |
8. |
Haryana |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
9. |
Himachal Pradesh |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
10. |
Jammu & Kashmir |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
11. |
Jharkhand |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
12. |
Karnataka |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
13. |
Kerala |
Rs. 300,000/- |
14. |
Madhya Pradesh |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
15. |
Maharashtra |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
16. |
Manipur |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
17. |
Meghalaya |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
18. |
Mizoram |
Rs. 25,000/- |
19. |
Nagaland |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
20. |
Odisha |
Rs.3,00,000/- |
21. |
Punjab |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
22. |
Rajasthan |
Rs. 1,50,000/- |
23. |
Sikkim |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
24. |
Telangana |
Rs.1,00,000/- |
25. |
Tamil Nadu |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
26. |
Tripura |
Rs. 1,50,000/- |
27. |
Uttar Pradesh |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
28. |
Uttarakhand |
Rs. 3,00,000/- |
29. |
West Bengal |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
30. |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
Rs.3,00,000/- |
31. |
Chandigarh UT |
Rs. 3,00,000/-
|
32. |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli UT |
Rs. 15,000/- |
33. |
Daman & Diu |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
34. |
Delhi |
General- Rs. 1,00,000/- Senior citizen- Rs. 2,00,000/- Transgender- Rs. 2,00,000/- |
35. |
Lakshadweep |
Rs. 9,000/- |
36. |
Puducherry |
Rs. 1,00,000/- |
2. Is a woman irrespective of her income/financial status eligible for Free Legal Aid?
Ans. Yes, a woman is entitled for Free Legal Aid irrespective of her income or financial status. A woman is eligible to apply for Free Legal Aid by virtue of Section 12(c) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
3. Am I eligible for Free Legal Aid if I do not earn/have enough money to pay for my case?
Ans. Yes, you are eligible for Free Legal Aid if
you fulfil the criteria under Section 12 (h) of the Legal Services Authorities Act,
1987. It states that those persons who have annual income of less than the amount
prescribed by the respective State Government, 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. The income ceiling limit as prescribed by
different States/Union Territories has been stated in the table in FAQ no. 1.
As per Section 13(2) of the Act, an affidavit made by a person as to his income is
generally regarded as sufficient for making him/her eligible for the entitlement of
legal services under the Act, unless the concerned Authority has reasons to question
or disbelief such affidavit.
4. What are the instances in which an application for Free Legal Aid can be denied?
Ans. Legal Aid can be denied if the person applying to avail Free Legal Aid is found to be ineligible under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Section 12 of the Act lays down the categories of persons that are eligible to acquire Free Legal Aid.
5. Till what age can a child apply for Free Legal Aid?
Ans. A child is eligible for Free Legal Aid till the age of majority i.e. 18 years. This is effectuated by Section 12 (c) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
6. Are senior citizens eligible for Free Legal Aid?
Ans. Senior citizens’ eligibility for Free Legal
Aid depends on the Rules framed by the respective State Governments in this
regard.
In Delhi for example, senior citizens are eligible for Free Legal Aid subject to prescribed ceiling of annual income. Any individual above the age of 60 can apply for Free Legal Aid/Services.