(a) the funds allocated to various States by the Union Government to provide free legal aid to the poors during the last three years, State-wise;
(b) whether all the States have properly utilized the funds for providing free legal aid;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government propose to amend the rules framed for this scheme; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE & COMPANY AFFAIRS AND SHIPPING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) During the last three years the Union Government have allocated funds through National Legal Services Authority to various State Legal Services Authorities for meeting the cost of legal services in terms of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 as per statement annexed.
(b) The Central Government does not allocate any funds to the State. Funds are allocated by the National Legal Services Authority to the State Legal Services Authorities on receipt of detailed requirements. The State Authorities are required to utilize these funds for the purposes for which these have been sanctioned. If any State Authority is unable to utilize the amount of funds sanctioned to it in a particular financial year, then it seeks the approval of National Legal Services Authority for carry forward of the balance amount to the next year.
(c) : does not arise.
(d) & (e) : National Legal Services Authority, which is also called the Central Authority, has laid down policies and principles and has framed various schemes for the purpose of making legal services available under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987. These schemes and policies are reviewed by the Central Authority from time to time and modifications wherever required are carried out.
Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2891 dated 7.12.2000.
STATEMENT SHOWING ALLOCATION OF FUNDS MADE TO STATES BY NALSA DURING THE LAST THREE
FINANCIAL YEARS i.e., 1997-98, 1998-99 & 1999-2000.
SL.No. Name of the State/UT Funds Allocated During
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000
1. Andhra Pradesh 1,00,000 Nil 1,00,000
2. Arunachal Pradesh 50,000 43,000 1,00,000
3. Assam 2,50,000 2,25,000 1,00,000
4. Bihar 8,00,000 - 1,50,000
5. Goa 3,00,000 - - 6. Gujrat - - 1,25,000
7 Haryana 2,67,000 5,00,000 -
8. Himachal Pradesh 9,50,000 - 6,06,795
9. Jammu & Kashmir 65,000 - 1,50,000 10. Karnataka - - 1,74,000 11. Kerala - 36,000 9,00,000 12. Madhya Pradesh 5,00,000 3,00,000 3,00,000 13. Maharashtra 3,00,000 5,00,000 14,00,000 14. Manipur 13,00,000 3,00,000 11,00,000 15. Meghalaya 18,00,000 9,00,000 9,00,000 16. Mizoram 3,00,000 13,00,000 3,00,000 17. Nagaland 13,00,000 3,00,000 3,00,000 18. Orissa 8,00,000 7,50,000 3,00,000 19. Punjab 7,00,000 3,00,000 18,50,000 20. Rajasthan 13,25,000 3,00,000 12,14,000 21. Sikkim 3,00,000 3,00,000 3,00,000 22. Tamil Nadu 3,00,000 4,50,000 20,00,000 23. Tripura 23,00,000 2,00,000 2,00,000 24. Uttar Pradesh 2,00,000 2,00,000 13,50,000 25. West Bengal 2,00,000 9,50,000 20,50,000 26. Andaman & Nicobar Islands 2,00,000 17,00,000 22,00,000 27. Chandigarh 2,00,000 2,00,000 2,00,000 28. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 2,00,000 10,00,000 2,00,000 29. Daman & Diu 12,00,000 2,00,000 2,00,000 30. Delhi 2,00,000 2,00,000 17,00,000 31. Lakshdweep 38,00,000 2,00,000 15,00,000 32. Pondicherry 2,00,000 2,00,000 2,00,000 33. Supreme Court Legal 2,00,000 2,00,000 15,00,000 Services Committee Total 59,91,795 2,45,89,000 2,54,50,000