NATIONAL LEVEL

           Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force with effect from 9.11.1995 throughout the country provides for Central Authority at the national level which is called National Legal Services Authority (hereinafter referred to as NALSA). Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and another Hon’ble Judge of the Supreme Court is the Executive Chairman whereas an officer belonging to the Indian Judicial Service or the State Higher Judicial Service is the Member Secretary thereof.

STATE LEVEL

1. BRIEF HISTORY

            There are twenty eight States and seven union territories comprising the Union of India and each State as also each Union Territory has a separate Legal Services Authority, constituted as such under the aforesaid Act.  Haryana is one such State of the Union of India and the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (hereinafter referred to as ‘H.S.L.S.A’, having its Head Office at Chandigarh is the successor body of Haryana State Legal Services and Advice Committee which as governed by the “Haryana State Grant of Free Legal Service and Advice to the Poor Rules, 1982 ”(hereinafter referred to as the “Rules of 1982”).  Pursuant to implementation of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as the "Act if 1987") with effect from 9.11.1995, the Haryana State Legal Services Authority Rules, 1996 (hereinafter referred to as the “HSLSA Rules of 1996”) read with the Haryana Legal Services Authority (Transaction of Business and Other Provisions) Regulations, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as “HSLSA Regulations of 1998”) now govern the functioning of this Authority.

2. H.S.L.S.A. consists of the following: -

1. Chief Justice of High Court of Punjab and Haryana as the Patron-in-Chief;

2. Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority;

3. The Secretary in the Department of Administration of Justice, Haryana;

4. The Secretary in the Department of Finance, Haryana;

5. The Secretary in the Department of Law and Legislative, Haryana;

6. The Advocate General of the Haryana State;

7. The Director General of Police of the State of Haryana;

8. The Chairman, Bar Council of Haryana and Punjab;

9. The Director, Public Relations Department, Haryana;

10. Chairman of District Legal Services Authority, Panchkula;

11. Chairman of District Legal Services Authority, Yumananagar;

12. Secretary in the Department of Higher Education;

13. Secretary in the Department of Secondary Education:

14. Member Secretary of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority.

2.         Besides the above, HSLSA also has the following members who are nominated by the Haryana Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court:-

     1. Chairperson, Haryana State Commission for Women;

     2. Director, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward  Classes Department, 

         Haryana; and

     3.  Chairman, Department of Law, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.

3.         LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES AT THE HIGH COURT LEVEL

            At the High Court level there exists an authority called the High Court Legal Services Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘HCLSC’).  An Hon’ble Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is the Chairman and the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court is the Secretary thereof.

4.         LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL

           At the district level there exists, in each of the twenty districts of the State of Haryana, an authority called the District Legal Services Authority (hereinafter referred to as ‘D.L.S.A.’).  The District and Sessions Judge/Senior Most Additional District and Sessions Judge/Senior Most Judicial Officer (as the case may be) is the Chairman whereas the Chief Judicial Magistrate/Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of every district is the Secretary thereof.

5.         LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES AT THE SUB-DIVISIONAL LEVEL

Similarly, in all the twenty one  sub-divisions of the State of Haryana where judicial courts are functioning, there exists an authority called the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘S.D.L.S.C.’).  The Senior Most Judicial Officer of the Sub-Division is the Chairman thereof.

Any body can meet the Chairman, (District Sessions Judge)/Secretary(Chief Judicial Magistrate) of District Legal Services Authority/Chairman (Senior Most Judicial Officer of Sub-Division) of Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee on every Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in his chamber for the work relating to legal services.