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Legal Service Authority

Area Wise Offices

Thiruvananthapuram District
Office Address 
1. State Legal Services Authority 
MemberSecretary,    
TC-24/1899,
'NIRVANA',DPI,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695014.
E-Mail Address: Kelsa @ eth.net 
2. Thiruvananthapuram District Legal 
    Services Authority Chairman        
(District Judge),Thiruvananthapuram.
 
3. Thiruvananthapuram Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Prl.Sub Judge],
 District Court Premises,TVM.
 
4. Neyyattinkara Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Neyyattinkara.
 
5. Nedumangad Taluk  Legal 
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
 Nedumangad.
 
6. Chirayinkeezh Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Attingal..

Kollam District
Office Address 
1. Kollam District Legal
    Services Authority 
Chairman,
District Judge,Kollam.
 
2. Kollam Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee     
Chairman [Prl.Sub Judge],
Kollam.
 
3. Kottarakara Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Kottarakara.
 
4. Pathanapuram Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Presiding Officer],
Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal,
[District Judge] Punalur.
             
5. Karunagappally Taluk  Legal 
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Munsiff],
Karunagappally.
 
6. Kunnathur  Taluk Legal
   Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff Magistrate],
Sasthamkotta.

Pathanamthitta District
Office Address 
1. Pathanamthitta District Legal
    Services Authority 
Chairman,
District Judge, Pathanamthitta.
 
2. Kozhencherry Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee     
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Pathanamthitta.
 
3. Thiruvalla Taluk Legal
    Services Committe [For Mallappally and 
    Thiruvalla Taluks]           
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Thiruvalla.
 
4. Ranni Taluk Legal 
     Services Committee            
Chairman [Munsiff] Ranny.
 
5. Adoor Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman[Munsiff] Adoor.

Alappuzha District
Office Address 
1. Alappuzha District Legal 
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge, Alappuzha.
 
2. Ambalappuzha Taluk Legal
    Services Committee     
Chairman,
[Addl] District Judge, Alappuzha.
 
3. Cherthala Taluk Legal 
     Services Committee.       
Chairman(Sub Judge),
Cherthala.
 
4. Chengannur Taluk Legal
    Services Committee             
Chairman [Munsiff],
Chengannur.
 
5. Karthikappally Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee.          
Chairman [Munsiff Magistrate] 
Harippad
 
6. Kuttanad Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee.
 
Chairman [Judicial First 
class Magistrate],
 Ramankary.
 
7. Mavelikkara Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee 
Chairman
[Addl.DistrictJudge],
Mavelikkara

Kottayam District
Office Address 
1. Kottayam District Legal
    Services Authority 
Chairman,
District Judge,Kottayam.
 
2. Kottayam Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee   
Chairman,
[Addl] Sub Judge,Kottayam.
 
3. Changanacherry Taluk Legal
    Services Committee        
Chairman [Munsiff]
Changanacherry.
 
4. Meenachil Taluk Legal
    Services Committee         
Chairman [Sub Judge]
Pala..
 
5. Kanjirappally Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee          
Chairman [Munsiff] 
Kanjirappally.
 
6. Vaikom Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff] 
Vaikom..

Idukki District
Office Address 
1. Idukki District Legal 
    Services Authority
 
Chairman,
District Judge,Thodupuzha.
 
2. Thodupuzha Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman,
Sub Judge, Thodupuzha.
 
3. Peerumade Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee  
Chairman 
[Munsiff Magistrate]
Peerumade..
 
4. Devikulam Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee  
Chairman 
[Munsiff Magistrate]Devikulam.
 
5. Udumpanchola Taluk Legal
    Services Committee         
Chairman [Sub Judge]
 Udumpanchola..

Ernakulam District
Office Address 
1. Ernakulam District Legal 
    Services Authority
 
Chairman,
District Judge,
Ernakulam.
 
2. High Legal Services Committee
 
Secretary, High Court Legal
Services Committee,
HighCourt Complex, Cochi
 
3. Kanayannur Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee   
Chairman [First Class Addl.
Sub Judge], Ernakulam
 
4. Kochi Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee                 
Chairman [Prl. Sub Judge]
Kochi.
 
5. Aluva Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee      
Chairman [Munsiff] Aluva.
 
6. Kunnathunad Taluk Legal
    Services Committee   
Chairman Presiding Officer]
Motor Accidents Claims
Tribunal [District Judge]
Perumbavoor
 
7. North Paravoor Taluk Legal
    Services Committee.    
Chairman
[Addl.DistrictJudge]
North Paravoor.
 
8. Muvattupuzha Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
    [For Kothamangalam and
    Muvattupuzha Taluks] 
Chairman [Presiding Officer Motor
Accidents Claims Tribunal]
Muvattupuzha.

Thrissur District
Office Address 
1. Thrissur District Legal
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge, Ernakulam.
 
2. Thrissur Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Prl. Sub Judge]
Thrissur.
 
3. Thalappally Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff],
Vadakkancherry.
 
4. Mukundapuram Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman 
[Prl Sub Judge],Irinjalakuda.
 
5. Chavakkad Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee    
Chairman [Munsiff]
Chavakkad.
 
6. Kodungallur Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee       
Chairman [Munsiff]
 Kodungallur.

Malappuram District
Office Address 
1. Malappuram District Legal
    Services Authority 
Chairman,
District Judge,Manjeri.
 
2. Eranad Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge]
Manjeri.
 
3. Tirur Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Presiding Officer]
Motor Accidents Claims
Tribunal, District Judge] Tirur.
 
4. Ponnani Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee 
Chairman 
[Munsiff Magistrate],Ponnani.
 
5. Perinthalmanna Taluk Legal
    Services Committee  
Chairman 
[Munsiff Magistrate],Perinthalmanna.
 
6. Thirurangadi Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff]
Parappanangadi.
 
7. Nilambur Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff]
Manjeri.

Palakkad District
Office Address 
1. Palakkad District Legal 
    Services Authority
 
Chairman,
District Judge,Palakkad.
 
2. Palakkad Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Prl Sub Judge]
Palakkad.
 
3. Chittoor Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff]
Chittoor.
 
4. Alathur Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff]
Alathur.
 
5. Ottappalam Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman 
[Sub Judge],Ottappalam.
 
6. Mannarkad Taluk Legal 
    Services Committee
 
Chairman
[Munsiff Megistrate]Mannarkad.

Kozhikode District
Office Address 
1. Kozhikode District Legal
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge, Kozhikode.
 
2. Kozhikode Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Addl. Sub Judge]
Kozhikode.
 
3. Vadakara  Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Vadakara.
 
4. Koyilandy  Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman 
[Sub Judge],Koyilandy.

Wayanad District
Office Address 
1. Wayanad District Legal
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge,
Kalpetta.
 
2. Sulthanbathery  Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Sub Judge]
Sulthanbathery.
 
3. Vythiri Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Munsiff],
Kalpetta.
 
4. Mananthavadi   Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman 
[Munsiff Magistrate], Mananthavadi .

Kannur District
Office Address 
1. Kannur District Legal
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge,Thalassery.
 
2. Kannur Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Munsiff]
Payyannur.
 
3. Thaliparambu Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Kalpetta.
 
4. Thalassery Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman 
[Prl Sub Judge],Thalassery.

Kasargode District
Office Address 
1. Kasargode  District Legal
    Services Authority.
 
Chairman,
District Judge, Kasargode.
 
2. Kasargode Taluk Legal
    Services Committee 
Chairman [Prl Munsiff]
Kasargode.
 
3. Hosdurg Taluk Legal
    Services Committee
 
Chairman [Sub Judge],
Hosdurg.

Functions

         The intention of the Kerala State Legal Services Authorities Act is to constitute Legal Services Authorities to provide free and competent Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and to organise Lok-Adalats to secure that the operations of the legal system promotes justice, on a basis of equal opportunity.

        It shall be the duty of the State Authority to give effect to the policy and directions of the central Authority.

         Without prejudice to the generality of the functions referred to above the State Authority shall perform all or any of the following functions namely:

         a) Give legal service to persons who satisfy the criteria laid down under Section 12 of the Act. (As per Section 12 of the Act every person who has to file or defend a case shall be entitled to legal services under the Act if that person is.

  • a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; or

  • a victim of trafficking in human being or begar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution or

  • a woman or a child; or

  • a mentally ill or otherwise disabled person; or

  • a person under circumstances of underserved want such as being a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earth-quake or industrial disaster; or

  • an industrial workman; or. 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 a 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

  • in receipt of annual income Rs. 12000/- or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government, if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 12000/- as such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government, if the case is before the Supreme Court.)

  • in receipt of annual income Rs. 12000/- or such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the State Government, if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 12000/- as such other higher amount as may be prescribed by the Central Government, if the case is before the Supreme Court.)

b)Conduct of Lok Adalats, including Lok Adalats for High Court cases;

c)Under take preventive and strategic legal aid programmes; and

d)Perform such other functions as the State Authority, may in consultation with the Central Authority fix by Regulations.

Main Activities

         In discharge of its functions, the State Authority shall appropriately act in co-ordination with other governmental agencies, non-governmental voluntary social service institutions. Universities and other bodies engaged in the work of promoting the cause of legal services to the poor and shall also be guided by such directions as the Central Authority may give to it in writing.

Lok Adalat

         Lok Adalat is conducted by High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees. A Lok Adalat consists of a serving or retired judicial officer and not more than 12 social workers, one of whom should be preferably a woman. The Lok Adalat has jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a compromise or settlement in cases pending before the courts, and also in cases which had not reached the court. In the latter case request has to be made to the Chairman District Legal Services Authority or Taluk Legal Services Committee for taking appropriate actions. Only compoundable criminal cases can be settled before Lok Adalat. The award passed by the Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a decree and can be executed before the court and no appeal shall lie against such an award.

Development Projects and Plans

  1. Establishment of special Lok Adalats for settlement of disputes pending in various Government Departments, Local Bodies and Public Undertakings.
  2. Establishment of Legal Aid Clinics and Legal Aid Centres in all the University Centres, Colleges and other selected Centres.
  3. Constitution of Legal Aid Cells in every district for the purpose of dealing with the grievances of the detenues languishing in prison.
  4. Constitution of seperate Adalat for the settlement of disputes pending with woman's Commission in every district
  5. Establishment of permanent and continuous Lok Adalats in the District Centre for the expeditious disposal of both pre-litigative and litigative cases
  6. Establishment of Counseling and Conciliation Centres in all the District Centres. The setting up of these centres at District level would not only enable the District Legal Services Authorities to motivate parties to arrive at negotiated settlements but also held them in ascertaining as to whether a person applying for legal aid has or not a prima facie case in his favour.

Financial Aids

State Authority shall establish a fund to be called State Legal Aid Fund and these shall be credited there to

  1. all sums of money paid to it or any grants made by the Central Authority for the purposes of the Act.
  2. any grants or donation that may be made to the State Authority by the State Government or by any person for the purposes of the Act.
  3. any other amount received by the State Authority under the orders of any court or
  4. from any other source.

Other Activities

Publication of Legal Literature for educating the common masses on important subjects like, Human Rights, Family Laws, Consumer Protection, Constitutional Rights, Rights of Woman and Children etc.

Rendering of legal service in the conduct of any case or other legal proceeding before any court or other Authority or Tribunal and giving of advice on any legal matter.

Application forms and Procedures

2 Forms are prescribed as per Regulation Form No: 1: Any person desirous of receiving legal services may make an application in form No: 1 to the High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authority or Taluk Legal Services Committee, as the case may be (specimen form is appended)

2 Forms are prescribed as per Regulation Form No: 1: Any person desirous of receiving legal services may make an application in form No: 1 to the High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authority or Taluk Legal Services Committee, as the case may be (specimen form is appended).

Laws

  1. Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (Act 39 of 1987 (as amended by the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 1994 (59 of 1994)
  2. Kerala State Legal Services Authorities Rules, 1998.
  3. Kerala State Legal Services Authority Regulations, 1998
  4. Kerala State Legal Services Authority (High Court Legal Services Committee) Regulations, 1990.
  5. Section 304 of Criminal Procedure Code-Legal Aid to accused at State expenses in certain cases.
  6. Order 33 Code of Civil Procedure deals with suits by indegent persons. Provisions intended to enable indegent person to institute suits without payment of court fees. 

FORM1
KERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY 
(Regulation 40) 
FORM OF APPLICATION  TO BE MADE FOR LEGAL SERVICES  



      To
          .......................................................... Authority/Committee
          ..........................................................
          ..........................................................
          ..........................................................

1. Name in Full :

2. Age and Sex:

3. Father's/Husband's Name:

4. Occupation:

5. Address :

6. Caste:

7. Annual Income:

8. Whether eligible for legal aid, if so how :

9. Name of Court or 
   Authority and nature of Proceedings

10.Particulars of the legal services sought for :

11.Whether an affidavit regarding income is enclosed :

12.Any other particulars which the applicant desires to furnish :

Place:
Signature/Thumb impression
Date:
of the Applicant
 
           DECLARATION


I,....................................................., the applicant hereby solemnly affirm and declare that what is stated above is true to the best of my information, knowledge and belief.

 
Signature/Thumb impression
 
of the Applicant
 
...................................................................................................................

KERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
(Regulation 42)


PROCEEDINGS OF THE....................AUTHORITY/COMMITTEE

Sub:- Authorisation to an Advocate to file/appear and defend on behalf of
Shri/Smt........................................................

Ref :- Application of Shri/Smt....................................dated.....................for legal aid.
Order No:
Dated:

Shri/Smt..............................................., Advocate......................................................... is authorised to appear............................................................on behalf of the applicant Shri/Smt...............................................................................

Shri/Smt.........................................................................................is directed to contact the above legal practitioner and to furnish necessary information and documents, if any, required by the legal practitioner. This authorisation is subject to the provision of the Regulations.

The expenditure towards legal services incurred in the proceedings of the case will be met by the Authority/Committee. 

Secretary, 
........................................Authority/Committee


...................................................................

To

1. Shri/Smt..............................................................., Advocate
2. The Applicant Shri/Smt........................................................
3. Proceedings file
4. Office Copy.

...................................................................

  


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