Modi’s ‘Sabka Nyay’ plan underway as seven legal services schemes launched

Speaking on the occasion of Legal Services Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted the importance of strengthening legal services mechanisms in the country..To this end, the Central Government plans to revamp the existing infrastructure by introducing seven new legal services schemes. Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda in a function held in Delhi on Saturday, announced the introduction of the schemes to be implemented by legal services institutions at the national, state, district and taluk levels..The new schemes are:.NALSA (Victims of trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation) Scheme, 2015NALSA (Legal Services to the Workers in the Unorganised Sector) Scheme, 2015NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their Protection) Scheme, 2015NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015NALSA (Effective Implementation of Poverty Alleviation Schemes) Scheme,2015NALSA (Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights) Scheme, 2015NALSA (Legal Services to the Victims of Drug Abuse and Eradication of Drug Menace) Scheme, 2015..Provided the schemes are implemented effectively, it is a move that will help alleviate pendency figures. Gowda also suggested that an assessment be carried out as to how many of the 26 crore pending cases are those requiring legal aid. He also expressed concerns that the quality of legal aid being presently offered is “below par”..Justice TS Thakur, the next Chief Justice of India was also present at the event. As Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), he allayed the fears of the Executive that legal services authorities are encroaching into their domain. He said,.“…We are not an authority that is sitting over judgments of what the government does… Our role is that of a bridge between the beneficiary on one hand and the government on the other. That role of a bridge and as a facilitator need not be confused as an encroachment…”.Today, Prime Minister Modi suggested that awareness of legal aid services should be increased and that law universities should be tasked with research on Lok Adalats, which have been an effective means of case settlement..In five National Lok Adalats held this year, 16.4 lakh cases have been settled thus far..The Prime Minister also suggested that rendering free legal aid to poor could become a criterion in selection of judges..Image taken from here.