INTRODUCTION

प्रकाशित तिथि : सितम्बर 2, 2026

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

The Preamble of the Constitution of India promises to all its citizens, justice-social, economic and political and the Article 39-A of the Constitution of India mandates that no person is denied access to justice due to economic or other disabilities.

In alignment with this constitutional vision and the directive under Article 39A, the Parliament enacted the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, establishing a nationwide network to provide free, competent legal aid and equitable dispute resolution to the weaker sections of society.

THE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES ACT, 1987

The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which officially came into enforcement on 9th November 1995, serves as the bedrock of India’s commitment to ensuring equal access to justice. Enacted to give practical effect to Article 39-A of the Constitution of India, the statute mandates the state to provide free and competent legal services to marginalized, economically backward, and vulnerable sections of society. The core objective of the Act is to ensure that no citizen is denied the opportunity to secure justice due to economic or other disabilities.

HEIRARCHY OF LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES

To seamlessly execute mandate across the nation, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 establishes a robust hierarchical institutional framework comprising the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at the apex, alongside dedicated State, District, and Taluk-level authorities. Beyond conventional litigation aid, a defining crux of the legislation is the statutory institutionalization of Lok Adalats. These forums act as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism designed to provide speedy, affordable, and amicable settlements for both pending court matters and pre-litigation disputes. Crucially, any award passed by a Lok Adalat is legally deemed a decree of a civil court, rendering it final, absolute, and binding on all parties with no provision for further appeal.

The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provides for a structured system of legal services authorities at various levels, such as:

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs)
High Court Legal Services Committees
District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs)
Taluk Legal Services Committees

STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, U.T. CHANDIGARH

In alignment with the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the Administrator of the Union Territory Chandigarh, in consultation with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, framed the Chandigarh Legal Services Authority Rules, 1997 under which the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), U.T. Chandigarh was formally established on January 19, 1998. The Authority’s core mandate is to deliver free, competent legal services to eligible individuals, ensuring that no citizen is denied access to justice due to economic or other disabilities.

To effectively implement its welfare and legal aid programmes across the Union Territory, Chandigarh, the Authority works in close coordination with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Chandigarh, and key administrative departments and stakeholders.

The organizational leadership is anchored by the judiciary: the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court serves as the Patron-in-Chief, while a senior Judge of the High Court guides operations as the Executive Chairman.

Presently, the Authority functions under the esteemed leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as Patron-in-Chief, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anoop Chitkara, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, as Executive Chairman. Administrative and executive operations are spearheaded by Mr. Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Additional District & Sessions Judge, serving as the Member Secretary.

DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

At the grassroots level, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Union Territory, Chandigarh, actively carries forward the vital mission of democratising justice. The Authority operates under the leadership of the learned District & Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, who serves as its Chairman, and is structurally supported by a dedicated, full-time Secretary drawn from the judiciary. Presently, Sh. Sunil Kumar, Chief Judicial Magistrate, steers the executive functioning as the Secretary, DLSA, U.T. Chandigarh.

The primary mandate of the DLSA is to translate the constitutional promise of equal opportunity into reality by providing free, competent legal aid to the weaker and marginalised sections of society. To bridge the systemic gap between the law and the citizen, the Authority is deeply committed to grassroots outreach, regularly organising free legal aid camps, intensive legal literacy campaigns, and community awareness activities across Union Territory Chandigarh. Through these proactive initiatives, the DLSA ensures that legal protection remains accessible, swift, and effective for every citizen at the local level.