Introduction

The Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court is the Patron-in-Chief and Hon’ble Justice Shri Michael Zothankhuma, Judge, Gauhati High Court is the Executive Chairman of the Authority. ASLSA is housed at 1st Floor, Gauhati High Court Old Block, Guwahati-781001, Assam.

Legal aid is an essential part of the Administration of Justice. “Access to Justice for All” is the motto of the Authority. The goal is to secure justice to the weaker sections of the society, particularly to the poor, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially backward, women, children, specially able persons etc. but steps are needed to be taken to ensure that nobody is deprived of an opportunity to seek justice merely for want of funds or lack of knowledge. To ensure this the Authority organizes Legal Literacy and Awareness Camps in different parts of Assam.

The State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. It is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority. In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District. The District Legal Services Authority is situated in the District Courts Complex in every District and chaired by the District & Sessions Judge of the respective district.