National Legal Services Day (NLSD)

is celebrated on 9th November every year across India. It was started by the Supreme Court of India in 1995. The day commemorates the enactment of the Indian Legal Services Authorities Act 1987, which came into force on 9th November 1995. The day aims at spreading legal awareness as well as providing free legal aid and advice to the poor and weaker sections of the society, so as to ensure justice for all.

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was 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. The Chief Justice of India serves as the Patron-in-Chief NALSA, while the second senior most Judge of Supreme Court of India serves as the Executive Chairman of the Authority.

Article 39A of the Indian Constitution provides that 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 disability.

“Society is guilty if anyone suffers unjustly.” ~ Late Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer