Legal Services Authority

Under section 12 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority Act, 1997, a person is entitled to legal services if his annual income is less than rupees 25 thousand if the case before the Court other than the Supreme Court and less than 50 thousand if the case is before the Supreme Court. However, the income rider does not apply to the members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, child, mentally retarded persons, industrial workmen, a victim of traffic in human being or beggar etc.

Various Lok Adalats have been conducted by the the J&K State Legal Services Authority in Districts Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Bhaderwah, Samba, Ramban, Kishtwar, Reasi, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Shopian, Bandipora, Leh and Kargil . In all 277 Lok Adalts were held which  disposed of  15010 cases.  Legal awareness camps / seminars have been organized through the State through Legal Services Authorities and Committees at District and Tehsil Levels. Various Schemes have  been issued to provide legal aid and services to the beneficiaries of  the policy and Schemes in a competent and effective manner with a view to ensuring fair and equitable justice to all irrespective of their financial position. An amount  of Rs. 115137269.00 has been awarded in MACT cases. The Authority is holding Mega Lok Adalats in both the wings of the High Court during this financial year.