{"id":4757,"date":"2020-09-05T15:17:27","date_gmt":"2020-09-05T15:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/?p=4757"},"modified":"2020-09-16T14:20:57","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T14:20:57","slug":"the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Legal aid services in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-text-color\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em><strong>Anurag Kushwaha<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The original title of the paper was &#8216;Effects of Economic Distress on Legal Aid Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic in India&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_47_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-6a22620a0c875\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-6a22620a0c875\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#INTRODUCTION\" title=\"INTRODUCTION\">INTRODUCTION<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#IMPORTANCE_OF_LEGAL_EMPOWERMENT_AND_ACCESS_TO_JUSTICE\" title=\"IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL EMPOWERMENT AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE\">IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL EMPOWERMENT AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#ECONOMIC_EFFECTS_OF_COVID-19_PANDEMIC_ON_INDIA\" title=\"ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIA\">ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#IMPACTS_OF_THE_ECONOMIC_DISTRESS_ON_THE_LEGAL_AID_SERVICES\" title=\"IMPACTS OF THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS ON THE LEGAL AID SERVICES\">IMPACTS OF THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS ON THE LEGAL AID SERVICES<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#THE_WAY_AHEAD\" title=\"THE WAY AHEAD\">THE WAY AHEAD<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/#CONCLUSION\" title=\"CONCLUSION\">CONCLUSION<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"INTRODUCTION\"><\/span>INTRODUCTION<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The concept of providing justice to the weaker sections of the society was forwarded by several pioneers throughout Indian history, after independence. It was quite clear that people were being exploited economically as well as socially, including mainly the labourers, women, children and disabled groups.<a href=\"#_ftn1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Hence, the need for legal aid was strongly felt and after the enforcement of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987(hereinafter referred as \u2018the Act\u2019), the purpose of providing justice to the weaker sections of society was recognised and Lok Adalats and several other legal services authorities were constituted. National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is the apex legal services institution that also funds the other related bodies.<a href=\"#_ftn2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Even under the Constitution of India, Article 39A mentions free legal aid for the economic\/differently-abled groups. The responsibility of implementing legal aid schemes was provided to the committee formed under Justice P.N. Bhagwati in 1980 who had been actively involved in preaching about the importance of legal aid.<a href=\"#_ftn3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">However, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sharp downturn in India\u2019s economic condition and the paper aims to first explain the concept of legal aid in a brief manner and further the economic effects of COVID-19 on India and then discuss the main theme of the paper, which is, the impacts of economic distress on legal aid services, followed briefly on the way ahead and the conclusion that would aim to suffice the major role of justice delivery system in such time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IMPORTANCE_OF_LEGAL_EMPOWERMENT_AND_ACCESS_TO_JUSTICE\"><\/span>IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL EMPOWERMENT AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">In today\u2019s context, there is a need to provide timely justice to those in need with lesser resources. Legal aid was brought forward for this reason. Considering the inadequate number of courts, judges and the advent of legal aid services at the beginning of this century, it is obvious that litigation is not a suitable method for many and rather there is a need for alternative dispute resolution.<a href=\"#_ftn4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The judiciary has stated every now and then, that legal aid is of utmost importance and keeping the marginalised groups away from justice is not only antithetical to the idea of justice but also the purpose of courts and lawyers. As Justice P.N. Bhagwati observed while commenting on Public Interest Litigation in<em> People\u2019s Union for Democratic Rights &amp; Ors. v. Union of India &amp; Ors.<\/em>, which also highlighted the epistolary jurisdiction of the court, that a large number of people from deprived or vulnerable sections are looking to the courts for improving their life conditions.<a href=\"#_ftn5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The need for a reform was also mentioned by him and it cannot be denied that the structural reform in judiciary and legal services is absolutely required now that the courts are mostly limited to those with proper internet facilities and the underprivileged people are facing a setback.<a href=\"#_ftn6\"><sup>[6]<\/sup><\/a> Before studying the impacts of the degrading economy on legal aid during the pandemic, it is crucial to discuss its ill effects on India\u2019s economy first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ECONOMIC_EFFECTS_OF_COVID-19_PANDEMIC_ON_INDIA\"><\/span>ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things, at least for the time and has brought the future closer to us. However, the strict lockdown measures and the slowdown of the economy has taken a downturn on India and also several other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The difference can be understood by the <em>United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects Report<\/em> in January 2020 in which it was already claimed that South Asian economies are more exposed to shocks, extreme weather and price fluctuations. But still, 2020 was supposed to be a slightly brighter year for India as the rate of economic expansion was projected to be 6.6%.<a href=\"#_ftn7\"><sup>[7]<\/sup><\/a> Although, after the advent of the pandemic and based on another report published in May 2020 that updated the previous one, the projected economic growth for the country fell down to 1.2%.<a href=\"#_ftn8\"><sup>[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Also, the worst impact of this issue was bound to fall down on the lower sections of the society, as it is claimed that about 400 million workers in the informal sector (one of the major sectors for Indian workers) have a risk of falling deeper in the state of poverty.<a href=\"#_ftn9\"><sup>[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"IMPACTS_OF_THE_ECONOMIC_DISTRESS_ON_THE_LEGAL_AID_SERVICES\"><\/span>IMPACTS OF THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS ON THE LEGAL AID SERVICES<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Before discussing the impacts in recent time, it is important to look back and understand the position of legal aid services before the pandemic. In a report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, which was published in 2018<a href=\"#_ftn10\"><sup>[10]<\/sup><\/a>, it was found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Per capita spending on legal aid in India is merely Rs. 0.75.<\/li><li>There is a 14% underutilisation of funds that are allocated to the State Legal Services Authorities.<\/li><li>There is only one legal aid lawyer per 18,609 people in India.<\/li><li>Only 3% of the fund was spent on training of the lawyers or people involved in legal aid services.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Such findings are often questioned or countered as the position of legal aid in India is better than it was before, which most claim that support the view, as even NALSA stated that about 14,75,577 people were benefited through legal services in April 2018-March 2019.<a href=\"#_ftn11\"><sup>[11]<\/sup><\/a> The fact cannot be denied but as the pandemic and its worsening impacts on economy and the future prospects come into the light<a href=\"#_ftn12\"><sup>[12]<\/sup><\/a>, it is imperative that a robust structural legal aid system is built and maintained as even though legal aid benefits several people, there is still a large section of the society that is left out<a href=\"#_ftn13\"><sup>[13]<\/sup><\/a>, and in my opinion is getting larger in number with the imminent threats to employment and economy as observed in the sections above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The condition of legal aid services is not very promising, as empirical research in the city of Delhi examines about 720 primary data that resulted in findings, that revealed about 98% people do not even trust the quality of legal aid counsels and are often compelled to pay money, which defies the purpose of legal aid altogether.<a href=\"#_ftn14\"><sup>[14]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The eligibility for legal aid includes the members of SC\/ST, a victim of trafficking in humans, women\/children or person with a disability, a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, natural or industrial disaster, an industrial workman or a person in custody.<a href=\"#_ftn15\"><sup>[15]<\/sup><\/a> While justice cannot be denied to any person merely because there is no means to pay the prescribed fees involved at various stages of litigation<a href=\"#_ftn16\"><sup>[16]<\/sup><\/a>, but the findings observed above clearly reflect the position of legal aid services presently that along with courts are facing adversities due to the pandemic and social distancing measures, with only e-courts being functional.<a href=\"#_ftn17\"><sup>[17]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">In a time of recession or slow economy, it is obvious that the need for legal services is more as an increasing number of people become eligible for legal aid and have to seek justice. It is also observed that the legal services fund is required to be increased and the role of local government, foundations, law schools increases furthermore, without which the gap of legal services availability only increases<a href=\"#_ftn18\"><sup>[18]<\/sup><\/a>, which is the highlighting issue during the pandemic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Hence, the following are the major impacts that the ongoing economic slowdown has on legal aid services:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>The issues regarding the inefficiency of the core justice bodies has been leading to increased pressure on higher courts already as found in empirical research.<a href=\"#_ftn19\"><sup>[19]<\/sup><\/a> The Supreme Court with its guidelines for the functioning of courts across India<a href=\"#_ftn20\"><sup>[20]<\/sup><\/a>, did take into account the help of technology in maintaining access to justice but in my opinion, perhaps had to look over the lower sections of society and remote areas where the reach of justice has always been questioned and with the issuance of guidelines are questioned more.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Funding for legal services is important to keep the legal aid functioning, but with no robust support from the government as financial aid and most of the courts shut down while only taking up urgent matters, several lawyers are finding it difficult to survive this economic struggle that has come along with the coronavirus pandemic.<a href=\"#_ftn21\"><sup>[21]<\/sup><\/a> The underutilisation of funds allotted for legal aid was one of the major findings in the <em>Increasing<\/em> <em>Access to Justice for Marginalized People: GoI-UNDP Project<a href=\"#_ftn22\"><sup><strong><sup>[22]<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup><\/a><\/em>, few years back and it is quite obvious that the non-availability of the funds and worsening economy recently will have increased adverse impacts on legal aid.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Apart from the funding and functioning of courts, it can be very well understood that the lawyers or workers involved in legal aid services are facing a professional inequality and can hardly manage to travel or reach out to the remote areas due to the social distancing norms and non-functioning of public travel facilities in many regions from where people need legal aid services.<a href=\"#_ftn23\"><sup>[23]<\/sup><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Another factor involved is the country\u2019s dense and differentiated population that has always needed a specific aid for its specific legal needs but has only got a generalised response.<a href=\"#_ftn24\"><sup>[24]<\/sup><\/a> The underprivileged classes should certainly not go through this, as they are most exploited. The legal aid lawyers often don\u2019t show up for a hearing or force the aggrieved parties to pay money.[25] Due to the pandemic and a resulting slow economy, this issue is bound to get serious unless the government interferes and the judiciary realises its role for the often overlooked sections of society, which it has always preached about.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The Supreme Court of India had taken suo motu cognizance and ordered the central government to ensure adequate food, shelter and transport for the migrant workers going back to their homes<a href=\"#_ftn26\"><sup>[26]<\/sup><\/a> which although was contradictory to the court\u2019s statement before<a href=\"#_ftn27\"><sup>[27]<\/sup><\/a>. Clearly such steps are appreciated and much needed as directions for the Centre and other State High Courts to pursue but the irony that most of the root level bodies or institutions that provide legal aid services are not equipped or able to provide legal aid in such time, questions the purpose of justice. The financial impact due to the worsening economy and several shutdowns is keeping away these organisations from actually realising such cognizance or directions, while the top tier bodies like NALSA are actively participating in responding to the grievances of people in need and are trying to build a strong network for online or telephonic assistance.<a href=\"#_ftn28\"><sup>[28]<\/sup><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"THE_WAY_AHEAD\"><\/span>THE WAY AHEAD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">As Justice P.N. Bhagwati once said, \u201cGovernment alone will never be able to do it. \u2026 It is only the people themselves who must utilize law for the purpose of bringing justice to the doorsteps of the large masses of people of the country.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn29\"><sup>[29]<\/sup><\/a> It should be realised that in a time when the projected economic growth is at such low<a href=\"#_ftn30\"><sup>[30]<\/sup><\/a>, and the country\u2019s financial plans do not give priority to funding towards legal aid, the responsibility of helping the underprivileged sections should be shared by all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">The paralegal volunteers working under NALSA are to take an active role in helping the poor<a href=\"#_ftn31\"><sup>[31]<\/sup><\/a> and along with such steps, there is a need to look back in history when Harivallabh Parikh reshaped the facility of access to justice for people living in the Rangpur village of Gujrat. In a research conducted by Upendra Baxi<a href=\"#_ftn32\"><sup>[32]<\/sup><\/a>, the Lok Adalat system set up by him was analysed in a village where tribal people lived and had no organised way of sustaining their lives or support in reaching out to police\/courts for their grievances. The use of local language for documentation work and shaping the procedure of hearing cases and letting the people participate sets out a strong background for a remodelling of legal aid in remote areas, where in the time of pandemic and slow economy, not many facilities are available. It may not be possible however to shape the legal aid strictly in terms of this precedence but immediate efforts could be made to reach people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">In its reference, an example could be the launch of mobile legal services to reach out to such people as done in Maharashtra.<a href=\"#_ftn33\"><sup>[33]<\/sup><\/a> One of the praiseworthy steps taken by NALSA regarding it is the launch of tele-law service in Patna, Bihar. <a href=\"#_ftn34\"><sup>[34]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Apart from it, in the context of the need of a converging role among various institutions and bodies<a href=\"#_ftn35\"><sup>[35]<\/sup><\/a>, the importance of clinical legal education for the future cannot be denied. The law students are required to be introduced to the social reality to make them better fighters in justice. The lack of legal awareness, especially in rural areas can be met only with the support of the youth as the Legal Aid Society of NUJS, Kolkata set out an example of collaborating with NGOs and Legal Services Authorities to help the Scheduled Caste people in Puri, Odisha in their fight for justice.<a href=\"#_ftn36\"><sup>[36]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CONCLUSION\"><\/span>CONCLUSION<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-justify\">Lawyers are the forerunners in the fight of justice for people seeking legal aid and with meagre financial help and burden of cases in the category of legal aid services, they are often compelled to move out or seem disinterested.<a href=\"#_ftn37\"><sup>[37]<\/sup><\/a> Hence, the apex court and other high courts should encourage lawyers working at the ground level in making them realise their role in providing justice and taking part in pro bono services, by an active epistolary jurisdiction and also an active approach in reaching out to people in need to provide justice.<a href=\"#_ftn38\"><sup>[38]<\/sup><\/a> With a favourable policy environment<a href=\"#_ftn39\"><sup>[39]<\/sup><\/a> and good pre-litigation and alternative dispute resolution system<a href=\"#_ftn40\"><sup>[40]<\/sup><\/a> along with active measures by the government, the economic distress and resulting impacts can be countered. This sets out to become a wider scope for research, with which probable solutions for the suffering legal aid services during the pandemic or for the near future can be found. The deep impacts of the slow economy as above should be fought against and helping the most vulnerable and marginalised groups as mentioned in section 12 of the Act and narrowing the gap towards access to justice, should be our priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A.A. Haja Muniuddian v. Indian Railways, (1992) 4 SCC 736<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Anurag K. Agrawal, <em>Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in Development of Society: `Lok Adalat\u2019 in India, <\/em><strong>(<\/strong>IIMA Working Papers WP2005-11-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.) available at https:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/p\/iim\/iimawp\/wp01913.html (Last visited on June 20, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Center for American Progress (\u2018CAP\u2019), <em>And Justice for All, Prioritising Free Legal Assistance During the Great Recession<\/em>, (July 08, 2009) available at https:\/\/www.americanprogress.org\/issues\/poverty\/reports\/2009\/07\/08\/6338\/and-justice-for-all\/ (Last visited on July 02, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp; Clarence J. Dias, <em>Research on Legal Services and Poverty: Its Relevance to the Design of Legal Services Programs in Developing Countries<\/em>, 1975 WASH. U. L. Q. 147 (1975), available at: https:\/\/openscholarship.wustl.edu\/law_lawreview\/vol1975\/iss1\/11 (Last visited on June 13, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), <em>Hope Behind Bars? Status Report on Legal Aid for Persons in Custody<\/em>,(September 18, 2018) available at https:\/\/www.humanrightsinitiative.org\/publication\/hope-behind-bars-status-report-on-legal-aid-for-persons-in-custody (Last visited on June 27, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dr Jeet Singh Mann, <em>Impact Analysis of the Legal Aid Services Provided by the Empaneled Legal Practitioners on the Legal Aid System in the City of Delhi, <\/em>Final Report of the Research Project Under the University Grants Commission Research Award 2012-14 (March 07, 2017)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; International Labour Organization (ILO), <em>ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work<\/em>, second edition, 16, (April 7, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jurist, Aviral Agrawal &amp; Priyansh Mishra, Legal Aid in India Amid the COVID-19 Lockdown, May 02, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.jurist.org\/commentary\/2020\/05\/agrawal-mishra-india-legalaid\/ (Last visited on June 05, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India, Speech at Columbia Law School: India\u2019s Human Rights Law (March 31, 2009)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>10.&nbsp;&nbsp; Khatri &amp; Ors. Etc. v. State of Bihar &amp; Ors., 1981 SCC (2) 493<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>11.&nbsp; Jayanth K. Krishnan, Shirish Naresh Kavadi, Azima Girach, Dhanaji Khupkar, Kalindi Kokal, Satyajeet Mazumdar, Ms. Nupur, Gayatri Panday, Aatreyee Sen, Aqseer Sodhi and Bharati Shukla, <em>Grappling at the Grassroots: Access to Justice in India&#8217;s Lower Tier (2013),<\/em> Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol. 27, 2014, Forthcoming, Indiana Legal Studies Research Paper No. 268, available at https:\/\/ssrn.com\/abstract=2297152 (Last visited on June 17, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12.&nbsp; Ministry of Law &amp; Justice, Department of Justice, <em>Increasing Access to Justice for Marginalized People: GoI-UNDP Project, <\/em>2013- 2017,05<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>13. LAWyersclubindia, <em>Free Legal Aid,<\/em> November 05, 2012, available at https:\/\/www.lawyersclubindia.com\/articles\/Free-Legal-Aid-5166.asp (Last visited on June 17, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>14.&nbsp;&nbsp; Live Law, <em>SC Not in Favour of Resuming Open Court Hearings Soon Amid Rise In COVID-19 Cases, <\/em>June 10, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.livelaw.in\/top-stories\/sc-not-in-favour-of-resuming-open-court-hearings-soon-amid-rise-in-covid-19-cases-158086 (Last visited on June 16, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>15.&nbsp; Madhav Hayawadanrao Hoskot v. State of Maharashtra, 1978 SCC (3) 544<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>16.&nbsp; Marc Galanter, Access to Justice in a World of Expanding Social Capability, 37 Fordham Urb. L.J. 115 (2010). Available at: https:\/\/ir.lawnet.fordham.edu\/ulj\/vol37\/iss1\/5&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>17.&nbsp; Meera Mathew, <em>Evolving Dimensions of Judiciary in India<\/em> (November 22, 2015). Christ University Law Journal, 4, 2 (2015), 39-54, ISSN 2278-4322, Available at SSRN: https:\/\/ssrn.com\/abstract=2719408 (Last visited on June 20, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>18.&nbsp; NALSA, <em>About us, <\/em>available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/about-us (Last visited on June 29, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>19.&nbsp; NALSA, <em>Notifications, <\/em>available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/notifications\/35 (Last visited on June 03, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>20.&nbsp; NALSA, <em>Notifications<\/em>, available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/notifications\/20 (Last visited on July 05, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>21.&nbsp; National Legal Services Authority, <em>Legal Services Beneficiaries, April 2018 to March 2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>22.&nbsp;&nbsp; NDTV, <em>Top Court Issues Guidelines for Court&#8217;s Functioning Amid COVID-19 Crisis, <\/em>April 06, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/coronavirus-india-supreme-court-issues-guidelines-for-courts-functioning-amid-covid-19-crisis-2207142 (Last visited on June 18, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>23.&nbsp;&nbsp; People\u2019s Union for Democratic Rights and Others v. Union of India and Others, 1982 SCC (3) 235<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>24.&nbsp; Ranjan Dwivedi v. Union of India, 1983 SCC (3) 307<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>25.&nbsp;&nbsp; Scroll.in, <em>India\u2019s coronavirus lockdown is revealing deep income disparities in the legal profession<\/em>, April, 10, 2020, available at https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/958528\/indias-coronavirus-lockdown-is-revealing-deep-income-disparities-in-the-legal-profession (Last visited on June 18, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>26.&nbsp; Scroll.in, <em>How well do India\u2019s free legal aid services work? Not nearly well enough?, <\/em>May 19, 2018, available at https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/877225\/how-well-do-indias-free-legal-aid-services-work-not-nearly-well-enough (Last visited on July 01, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>27.&nbsp; Sheela Barse v. State of Maharashtra, 1983 SCR (2) 337<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>28.&nbsp; Shuvro Prosun Sarker, <em>Empowering the Underprivileged: The Social Justice Mission for Clinical Legal Education in India, <\/em>International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, 2012, available at https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/305004391_Empowering_The_Underprivileged_The_Social_Justice_Mission_For_Clinical_Legal_Education_In_India (Last visited on June 13, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>29.&nbsp; S. Sood, (2019), <em>Convergence in the Practice of Legal Aid to Improve Access to Justice. Asian Journal of Legal Education<\/em>, 6(1\u20132), available at http:\/\/www.probono-india.in\/research-paper-detail.php?id=123 (Last visited on July 02, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>30.&nbsp; Suk Das &amp; Anr. v. Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh, 1986 SCC (2) 401<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>31.&nbsp; The Expert Committee on Legal Aid, <em>Processual Justice to the People, <\/em>115 (May 1973)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>32.&nbsp; The Hindu, <em>Coronavirus lockdown, can\u2019t stop migrants from walking home, says Supreme Court<\/em>, May 16, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/coronavirus-lockdown-cant-stop-migrants-from-walking-home-says-supreme-court\/article31595912.ece (Last visited on July 02, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>33.&nbsp; The Hindu, <em>Supreme Court orders Centre and States to immediately provide transport, food and shelter free of cost to stranded migrant workers<\/em>, May 26, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/supreme-court-takes-suo-motu-cognisance-of-migrant-workers-issue\/article31679389.ece (Last visited on July 02, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>34.&nbsp; The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, \u00a712<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>35.&nbsp; The Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>36.&nbsp; United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), <em>World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020<\/em>, (January 16, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>37.&nbsp; United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), <em>World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) as of mid 2020<\/em>, (May 13, 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>38.&nbsp; Upendra Baxi, <em>From Takrar to Karar: The Lok Adalat at Rangpur &#8211; A Preliminary Study<\/em>, 10 J. CONST. &amp; PARLIAMENTARY STUD. 52, (1976)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>39.&nbsp; Upendra Baxi, (1985), <em>Taking Suffering Seriously: Social Action Litigation in the Supreme Court of India<\/em>, Third World Legal Studies: Vol. 4, Article 6, available at: http:\/\/scholar.valpo.edu\/twls\/vol4\/iss1\/6 (Last visited June 22. 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a> The Expert Committee on Legal Aid, <em>Processual Justice to the People, <\/em>115 (May 1973).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a> NALSA, <em>About us, <\/em>available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/about-us (Last visited on June 29, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Id.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a> Anurag K. Agrawal, <em>Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods in Development of Society: `Lok Adalat\u2019 in India, <\/em>03,<strong>(<\/strong>IIMA Working Papers WP2005-11-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.) available at https:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/p\/iim\/iimawp\/wp01913.html (Last visited on June 20, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a> People\u2019s Union for Democratic Rights and Others v. Union of India and Ors., 1982 SCC (3) 235, at 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\"><sup>[6]<\/sup><\/a> Live Law, <em>SC Not in Favour of Resuming Open Court Hearings Soon Amid Rise In COVID-19 Cases, <\/em>June 10, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.livelaw.in\/top-stories\/sc-not-in-favour-of-resuming-open-court-hearings-soon-amid-rise-in-covid-19-cases-158086 (Last visited on June 16, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref7\"><sup>[7]<\/sup><\/a> United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), <em>World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020<\/em>, 140-142 (January 16, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref8\"><sup>[8]<\/sup><\/a> United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), <em>World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) as of mid 2020<\/em>, 19-20 (May 13, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref9\"><sup>[9]<\/sup><\/a> International Labour Organization (ILO), <em>ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work<\/em>, second edition, 16, (April 7, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref10\"><sup>[10]<\/sup><\/a> Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), <em>Hope Behind Bars? Status Report on Legal Aid for Persons in Custody<\/em>,(September 18, 2018) available at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https:\/\/www.humanrightsinitiative.org\/publication\/hope-behind-bars-status-report-on-legal-aid-for-persons-in-custody (Last visited on June 27, 2020).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref11\"><sup>[11]<\/sup><\/a> National Legal Services Authority, <em>Legal Services Beneficiaries, April 2018 to March 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref12\"><sup>[12]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref13\"><sup>[13]<\/sup><\/a> People\u2019s Union for Democratic Rights and Others v. Union of India and Others, 1982 SCC (3) 235.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref14\"><sup>[14]<\/sup><\/a> Dr Jeet Singh Mann, <em>Impact Analysis of the Legal Aid Services Provided by the Empaneled Legal Practitioners on the Legal Aid System in the City of Delhi, <\/em>35-37,Final Report of the Research Project Under the University Grants Commission Research Award 2012-14 (March 07, 2017).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref15\"><sup>[15]<\/sup><\/a> The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, \u00a712.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref16\"><sup>[16]<\/sup><\/a> <em>See<\/em> A.A. Haja Muniuddian v. Indian Railways, (1992) 4 SCC 736.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref17\"><sup>[17]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref18\"><sup>[18]<\/sup><\/a> Center for American Progress (\u2018CAP\u2019), <em>And Justice for All, Prioritising Free Legal Assistance During the Great Recession<\/em>, 1-2, (July 08, 2009) available at https:\/\/www.americanprogress.org\/issues\/poverty\/reports\/2009\/07\/08\/6338\/and-justice-for-all\/ (Last visited on July 02, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref19\"><sup>[19]<\/sup><\/a> Jayanth K. Krishnan, Shirish Naresh Kavadi, Azima Girach, Dhanaji Khupkar, Kalindi Kokal, Satyajeet Mazumdar, Ms. Nupur, Gayatri Panday, Aatreyee Sen, Aqseer Sodhi and Bharati Shukla, <em>Grappling at the Grassroots: Access to Justice in India&#8217;s Lower Tier (2013), <\/em>515. Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol. 27, 2014, Forthcoming, Indiana Legal Studies Research Paper No. 268, available at https:\/\/ssrn.com\/abstract=2297152 (Last visited on June 17, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref20\"><sup>[20]<\/sup><\/a> NDTV, <em>Top Court Issues Guidelines for Court&#8217;s Functioning Amid COVID-19 Crisis, <\/em>April 06, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/coronavirus-india-supreme-court-issues-guidelines-for-courts-functioning-amid-covid-19-crisis-2207142 (Last visited on June 18, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref21\"><sup>[21]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp; Scroll.in, <em>India\u2019s coronavirus lockdown is revealing deep income disparities in the legal profession<\/em>, April, 10, 2020, available at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/958528\/indias-coronavirus-lockdown-is-revealing-deep-income-disparities-in-the-legal-profession (Last visited on June 18, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref22\"><sup>[22]<\/sup><\/a> Ministry of Law &amp; Justice, Department of Justice, <em>Increasing Access to Justice for Marginalized People: GoI-UNDP Project, <\/em>2013- 2017,05.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref23\"><sup>[23]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra <\/em>note 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref24\"><sup>[24]<\/sup><\/a> Clarence J. Dias, <em>Research on Legal Services and Poverty: Its Relevance to the Design of Legal Services Programs in Developing Countries<\/em>, 152, 1975 WASH. U. L. Q. 147 (1975), available at&nbsp; https:\/\/openscholarship.wustl.edu\/law_lawreview\/vol1975\/iss1\/11 (Last visited on June 13, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref25\"><sup>[25]<\/sup><\/a> Scroll.in, <em>How well do India\u2019s free legal aid services work? Not nearly well enough? <\/em>May 19, 2018, available at https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/877225\/how-well-do-indias-free-legal-aid-services-work-not-nearly-well-enough (Last visited on July 01, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref26\"><sup>[26]<\/sup><\/a> The Hindu, <em>Supreme Court orders Centre and States to immediately provide transport, food and shelter free of cost to stranded migrant workers<\/em>, May 26, 2020, available at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/supreme-court-takes-suo-motu-cognisance-of-migrant-workers-issue\/article31679389.ece (Last visited on July 02, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref27\"><sup>[27]<\/sup><\/a> The Hindu, <em>Coronavirus lockdown, can\u2019t stop migrants from walking home, says Supreme Court<\/em>, May 16, 2020, available at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/coronavirus-lockdown-cant-stop-migrants-from-walking-home-says-supreme-court\/article31595912.ece (Last visited on July 02, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref28\"><sup>[28]<\/sup><\/a> NALSA, <em>Notifications, <\/em>available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/notifications\/35 (Last visited on June 03, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref29\"><sup>[29]<\/sup><\/a> Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India, Speech at Columbia Law School: India\u2019s Human Rights Law (March 31, 2009).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref30\"><sup>[30]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref31\"><sup>[31]<\/sup><\/a> Jurist, Aviral Agrawal and Priyansh Mishra, Legal Aid in India Amid the COVID-19 Lockdown, May 02, 2020, available at https:\/\/www.jurist.org\/commentary\/2020\/05\/agrawal-mishra-india-legalaid\/ (Last visited on June 05, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref32\"><sup>[32]<\/sup><\/a> Upendra Baxi, <em>From Takrar to Karar: The Lok Adalat at Rangpur &#8211; A Preliminary Study<\/em>, 10 J. CONST. &amp; PARLIAMENTARY STUD. 52, (1976).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref33\"><sup>[33]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref34\"><sup>[34]<\/sup><\/a> NALSA, <em>Notifications<\/em>, available at https:\/\/nalsa.gov.in\/notifications\/20 (Last visited on July 05, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref35\"><sup>[35]<\/sup><\/a> S. Sood, (2019). Convergence in the Practice of Legal Aid to Improve Access to Justice. Asian Journal of Legal Education, 6(1\u20132), 21, available at http:\/\/www.probono-india.in\/research-paper-detail.php?id=123 (Last visited on July 02, 2020).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref36\"><sup>[36]<\/sup><\/a> Shuvro Prosun Sarker, <em>Empowering the Underprivileged: The Social Justice Mission for Clinical Legal Education in India, <\/em>International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, 2012, available at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/305004391_Empowering_The_Underprivileged_The_Social_Justice_Mission_For_Clinical_Legal_Education_In_India (Last visited on June 13, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref37\"><sup>[37]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref38\"><sup>[38]<\/sup><\/a> <em>See<\/em> Sheela Barse v. State of Maharashtra, 1983 SCR (2) 337.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref39\"><sup>[39]<\/sup><\/a> Sood, <em>supra<\/em> note 35, 27.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref40\"><sup>[40]<\/sup><\/a> <em>Supra<\/em> note 22, 07.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anurag Kushwaha The original title of the paper was &#8216;Effects of Economic Distress on Legal Aid Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic in India&#8217; INTRODUCTION The concept of providing justice to the weaker sections of the society was forwarded by several pioneers throughout Indian history, after independence. It was quite clear that people were being exploited economically [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":4759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[34,704],"tags":[1856],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Legal aid services in India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The article goes through various economic impacts that Legal aid services in India is going through because of COVID-19 Pandemic.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lexforti.com\/legal-news\/the-economic-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-legal-aid-services-in-india\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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