Patna High Court Legal Services Committee issues notice for National Lok Adalat

Registrar-cum-Secretary, Patna High Court Legal Services Committee has issued notice for National Lok Adalat. National Lok Adalats will be held on March 12 2026, May 9, 2026, September 12, 2026 and 12th December 2026 in terms of Letter No. F.No. L/34/2018/NALSA December 4, 2025 of National Legal Services Authority. Schedule for National Lok Adalat to be held in the year 2026 is as under:- 
1st National Lok Adalat March 14, 2026,
2nd National Lok Adalat May 9, 2026
3rd National Lok Adalat September 12, 2026
4th National Lok Adalat December 12, 2026 

Following types of cases (pre-litigation and pending) may be taken up for settlement in the aforesaid National Lok Adalat:- 
a. Pre-litigation: All type of Civil and Compoundable Criminal cases, as may be permissible under the Act/Regulations may be taken up. The data and record of registration of cases be maintained by DLSA/HCLSC or TLSC under the directions of SLSA. The SLSA will make all endeavors to promote registration of pre-litigation cases and services of notices through digital platforms/online mode to ease pressure on conventional system. 

b. Pending in the Courts: All type of civil and compoundable criminal cases including following:
i. Criminal Compoundable Offences;
ii. Plea Bargaining Cases,
iii. NI Act cases under Section 138,
iv. Money Recovery cases;
v. Motor Accident Claim cases;
vi. Compoundable Traffic Challans,
vii. Labour dispute cases;
viii. Disputes related to Public Utility services such as Electricity & Water Bills cases etc. (excluding non-compoundable),
ix. Matrimonial disputes (except divorce)/Family disputes, 
x. Land Acquisition cases;
xi. Service matters including pension cases;
xii. Revenue and other ancillary matter, pending High Court, district Courts and state/district/taluka authorities.
xiii. IPR matter/Consumer matters/ also other matters pending before any other quasi-judicial authority
xiv. Other civil cases (rent, easmentary rights, injunction suits, specific performance suits etc.).

NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. Justice Surya Kant, The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief, NALSA. Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of NALSA. NALSA is housed at Supreme Court of India, Tilak Marg, New Delhi. The NALSA Centre for Citizen Services is set up at Jaisalmer House, Man Singh Road, New Delhi. It is working during office hours on all working days. 

In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services assistance to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. The State Legal Services Authority is headed by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority. The Seniormost Judge of the High Court is nominated as Executive Chairman, SLSA. In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District. The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in every District and chaired by the District Judge of the respective District. A Judicial Officer of Civil Judge Cadre is appointed as Secretary on full time basis.

Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that the State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. Articles 14 and 22(1) of the Constitution of India also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity to all. Legal aid strives to ensure that constitutional pledge is fulfilled in its letter and spirit and equal justice is made available to the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.

The earliest Legal Aid movement appears to be of the year 1851 when some enactment was introduced in France for providing legal assistance to the indigent. In Britain, the history of the organised efforts on the part of the State to provide legal services to the poor and needy dates back to 1944, when Lord Chancellor, Viscount Simon appointed Rushcliffe Committee to enquire about the facilities existing in England and Wales for giving legal advice to the poor and to make recommendations as appear to be desirable for ensuring that persons in need of legal advice are provided the same by the State. Since 1952, the Govt. of India also started addressing to the question of legal aid for the poor in various conferences of Law Ministers and Law Commissions. In 1960, some guidelines were drawn by the Govt. for legal aid schemes. In different states legal aid schemes were floated through Legal Aid Boards, Societies and Law Departments. In 1980, a Committee at the National Level was constituted to oversee and supervise legal aid programmes throughout the country under the Chairmanship of Justice P.N. Bhagwati, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. This Committee came to be known as CILAS (Committee for Implementing Legal Aid Schemes) and started monitoring legal aid activities throughout the country. The introduction of Lok Adalats added a new chapter to the justice dispensation system of this country and succeeded in providing a supplementary forum to the litigants for conciliatory settlement of their disputes. In 1987, Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted to give a statutory base to legal aid programmes throughout the country on a uniform pattern and come into force on 9th November, 1995 after certain amendments were introduced therein by the Amendment Act of 1994. Justice R.N. Mishra the then Chief Justice of India played a key role in the enforcement of the Act.

With the enforcement of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 on November 9, 1995, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted, and Justice K. Ramaswamy, Judge, Supreme Court of India was appointed as its first Executive Chairman. Upon assuming office, His Lordship promptly initiated steps to operationalize the Authority. R.C Chopra The first Member Secretary of NALSA was appointed in December 1997, followed by the induction of other officers and staff in January 1998. By February 1998, the office of the NALSA became fully functional. 

Criteria for giving legal services.– Every person who has to file or defend a case shall be entitled to legal services under this Act if that person is –

1. a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;
2. a victim of trafficking in human beings or begar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution;
3. a woman or a child;
4. a mentally ill or otherwise disabled person;
5. 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
6. an industrial workman; or
7. 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); or in a juvenile home within the meaning of clause (j) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986) or 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); or
8. in receipt of annual income less than rupees nine thousand or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Govt., if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court, and less than rupees twelve thousand or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the Central Govt., if the case is before the Supreme Court.”
   (Rules have already been amended to enhance this income ceiling)(Income wiling limits of various states is provided in Legal Aid heading further).

According to section 2(1) (a) of the Act, legal aid can be provided to a person for a ‘case’ which includes a suit or any proceeding before a court. Section 2(1) (aaa) defines the ‘court’ as a civil, criminal or revenue court and includes any tribunal or any other authority constituted under any law for the time being in force, to exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions. As per section 2(1)(c) ‘legal service’ includes the rendering of any service in the conduct of any case or other legal proceeding before any court or other authority or tribunal and the giving of advice on any legal matter. Legal Services Authorities after examining the eligibility criteria of an applicant and the existence of a prima facie case in his favour provide him counsel at State expense, pay the required Court Fee in the matter and bear all incidental expenses in connection with the case. The person to whom legal aid is provided is not called upon to spend anything on the litigation once it is supported by a Legal Services Authority.