[1][THE ANDHRA PRADESH (STATE) LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY REGULATIONS, 1996] In exercise of the
powers conferred under the provisions of Section 29-A of the Legal Services Authorities
Act, 1987, and in consultation with the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh
wherever necessary, the State Legal Services Authority hereby makes the
following Regulations: These Regulations may be called the A.P. State
Legal Services Authority Regulations and they shall come into force from such
date as may be fixed by the Authority. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires: (a) "Act" means, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (No. 39
of 1987); (b) "State Authority" means, the A.P. State Legal Services
Authority; (c) "High Court Committee" means the A.P. High Court Legal
Services Committee constituted under Section 8-A of the Legal Services
Authorities Act; (d) "District Authority" means the District Legal Services
Authority constituted under Section 9 of the Legal Services Authorities Act,
and shall include the Metropolitan Legal Services Authority and the City Civil
Court Legal Services Authority; (e) 'Taluk Committee" means the Taluk Legal Services Committee
constituted under Section 11-A of the Legal Services Authorities Act; (f) "Rules" means the A.P. State Legal Services Authority Rules,
1995; (g) "Legal Practitioner" shall have the meaning assigned to that
expression in the Advocates Act, 1961; (h) "Member" means a member of the State Authority, High Court
Committee, District Authority or the Taluk Committee as the case may be; (i) "Nominated Member" means a member nominated to the State
Authority, High Court Committee, the District Authority or the Taluk Committee,
as the case may be; (j) all other words and expressions used in these Regulations, but not
defined, shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the Act and
the Rules framed thereunder. The Executive Authority of the State Authority
shall vest in the Executive Chairman and may be exercised through the
Member-Secretary who shall act under the control of the Executive Chairman. Provided that in respect of any decision to be
taken, the Patron-in-Chief may give such advice as is deemed necessary. The Executive Authority of the District Authority
shall vest in its Chairman and may be exercised through its Secretary, who
shall act under the control of the Executive Chairman. The Executive Authority of the Taluk Committee
shall vest in its Chairman and may be exercised either by himself or through
such other officer who is chosen for the purpose. [2][CHAPTER – III State Authority (Shall come into force with such modifications as
are adopted in consultation with the Central Authority (vide Section 7 (d) of
the Act). In addition to the functions to be performed by the
State authority, as laid down by Section 7(1) and 7(2) (a) (b) (c) of the Act,
the State Authority may also perform the following functions: (1) The State Authority may conduct legal literacy camps in different parts
of the State, with a view to transmitting knowledge about the legal aid schemes
conducted in the State, or with a view to spreading consciousness about the
legal rights and duties of citizens with special reference to the tribal and
rural populations, women, children, disabled, handicapped and the weaker
sections of the Society. (2) The State Authority may finance public interest litigations before
appropriate Courts in the State if it is satisfied that such litigations are
for the general benefit of a large body or class of persons who cannot by
themselves take recourse to law due to penury, illiteracy or other similar
reasons. (3) The State authority may conduct legal aid clinics in different parts of
the State in collaboration with Law Colleges, Universities and other social
service organisations. (4) The State Authority may also establish or direct the District Authority
to establish conciliation committees at various centres in the State with a
view to providing permanent or quasi-permanent infrastructure for resolving
legal disputes between the parties, whether they may be pending in Courts or
may be in the offing. For establishing such Committees it will be open to the
State Authority/or the District Authority to take active assistance/support of
such social service organisations that have zeal for legal aid work. (5) May review the cases where legal services are refused by the District
Authority, on application. CHAPTER – IV High Court Legal Services Committee The State Authority shall constitute a Committee
called the High Court Legal Services Committee consisting of a sitting Judge of
the High Court who shall be nominated by the Patron-in-Chief as Chairman and
the following eight other members to be nominated by the Patron-in-Chief. (i) The President of the A.P. High Court Advocates' Association; (ii) One Member of the A.P. High Court Advocates' Association having not less
than 15 years of standing at the Bar; (iii) One Member of the A.P. High Court Advocates' Association having not less
than 5 years and not more than 15 years of standing at the Bar. (iv) one Member of the Women Lawyers' Association of High Court of A.P.
having not less than 10 years standing at the Bar; (v) one serving or retired eminent Law Teacher of a University; (vi) an eminent social worker engaged in the upliftment of the weaker
sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women,
Children and Rural Labour; (vii) an eminent person in the field of Law; and (viii) a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of
the Legal Services Schemes. (1) The term of the office of the Secratary and members of the High Court
Committee shall be for a period of Two Years unless earlier terminated by the
Patron-in-Chief. All members of the Committee except the Secretary
shall function in an honorary capacity. (2) If any member including the Chairman ceases to be the member of the High
Court Committee for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled up in the same
manner as the original nomination and the person so nominated shall continue to
be the member or the Chairman, as the case may be, for the remaining term of
the member or the Chairman in whose place he is nominated. (1) The Patron-in-Chief in consultation with the Executive Chairman of the
State Authority may remove any member nominated under Section 8-A (2) (b) from
the High Court Committee, who (a) fails without sufficient cause, to attend three consecutive meetings of
the Committee; or (b) has been adjudged insolvent; or (c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the
Patron-in-Chief of the State authority, involves moral turpitude; or (d) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member; or (e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in the Committee
prejudicial to the public interest. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-clause (1) of this Regulation,
no member of the Committee shall be removed, on any of the grounds specified
therein unless he has been given reasonable opportunity to be heard. (3) A member of the High Court Committee may resign his office, by writing
under his hand addressed to the Patron-in-Chief through the Executive Chairman
of the State authority and forwarded through the Chairman of the High Court
Committee. The resignation shall take effect from the date on which it is
accepted by the Patron-in-Chief. Subject to the general superintendence and control
of the State Authority, the High Court Committee shall exercise the following
powers and perform the following functions; (a) recommend to the State Authority for filing of Public Interest
Litigation in the High Court for the general benefit of a large body or class
of persons who cannot by themselves take recourse to law due to penury,
illiteracy or other similar reasons; (b) convene and organize Lok Adalats at regular intervals in respect of High
Court cases; (c) receive applications for legal services in respect of cases pertaining
to High Court of A.P.; (d) ensure that the case of every applicant is promptly processed and
disposed of; (e) consider the cases brought before it for legal services and decide as to
what extent legal services can be made available to the applicant; (f) persuade the parties to appear before it and make efforts to bring about
a just settlement between them, and if necessary, also refuse the legal
services, if in its opinion, the conciliation has failed due to and fault on
the part of the applicant; (g) encourage and promote conciliation and settlement in all legal
proceedings; (h) take proceedings for the recovery of the costs awarded to a person to
whom legal services are rendered; (i) submit recommendations and suggest improvements to the State Authority
in the working of these Regulations; (j) prepare and submit such reports, returns and other statistics or
information, as the State Authority may call for; and (k) perform and exercise such other functions and powers as may be
determined by regulations made by the State Authority from time to time. CHAPTER – V District Authority (1) The term of the office of the members [3][-] of
the District Authority shall be for a period of Two Years. (2) If any member of the District Authority ceases to be the member for any
reason, the vacancy shall be filled up in the same manner as the original
nomination and the person so nominated shall continue to be the member for
the remaining term of the member in whose place he is nominated. (3) A member of a District Authority may resign his office by writing under
his hand addressed to the State Government through the Executive Chairman of
the State Authority and forwarded through the Chairman of the District
Authority. The resignation shall take effect from the date on which it is
accepted. (1) On recommendation of the Patron-in-Chief, in consultation with the
Executive Chairman of the State Authority, the State Government shall remove
any nominated member from the District Authority, who (a) fails, without sufficient cause, to attend three consecutive meetings of
the District Authority; or (b) has been adjudged insolvent; or (c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the
Patron-in-Chief, involves moral turpitude; or (d) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member; or (e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in the District
Authority prejudicial to the public interest. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Clause (1) of this Regulation, no
member shall be removed unless the recommendation for his removal has been
made, on any of the grounds mentioned therein, only after affording him
reasonable opportunity to be heard. In addition to the functions assigned to it under
the Act and Rules, the District Authority shall perform the following
functions, subject to the general superintendence and control of the State
Authority: (1) shall perform such other functions as the State Authority may fix by
Regulations from time to time, and shall also be guided by such directions as
Central Authority or the State Authority may give to it, in writing, from time
to time; (2) conduct legal literacy camps in different parts of the District with a
view to transmitting knowledge about the legal aid schemes conducted in the
State or with a view to spreading consciousness about the legal rights and
duties of citizens with special reference to the tribal and rural population,
women, children, disabled, handicapped and the weaker sections of the society; (3) conduct legal aid clinics in different parts of the District in
collaboration with Law Colleges. Universities and other social service
organisations: (4) supervise, direct and guide the working of the Taluk Committees in the
District. (5) call for from the Taluk Committees in the District such periodical
reports, returns and other statistics or information as it may think fit, or as
are required by the State Authority; (6) prepare, consolidate and submit such reports, returns and other
statistics or information in respect of District Authorities, as the State
Authority may call for; (7) receive applications for legal services and ensure that every
application is promptly processed and disposed of. (8) consider the cases brought before it for legal services including prelitigation
matters and decide as to what extent legal services can be made available to
the applicant. (9) persuade the parties to appear before it and make efforts to bring about
a just settlement between them and, if necessary, also refuse the legal services,
if in its opinion the conciliation has failed due to any fault on the part of
the applicant. (10) encourage and promote conciliation and settlement in all legal
proceedings, including pre-litigation matters. (11) take proceedings for recovery of costs awarded to a person to whom legal
services are rendered; (12) may review the cases where legal services are refused by the Taluk
Committee, on application: CHAPTER-VI Taluk Legal Committee (1) The term of Office of the members of the Taluk Committee shall be for a
period of two years. (2) If any member of the said Committee ceases to be such member for any
reason, the vacancy shall be filled up in the same manner as the original
nomination and the person so nominated shall continue to be the member for the
remaining term of the member in whose place he is nominated. (3) A member of the Taluk Committee may, resign his office by writing under
his hand addressed to the Executive Chairman of the State Authority and
forwarded through the Chairman of the District Authority under intimation to
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee. Such resignation shall take effect from
the date on which it is accepted by the Executive Chairman of the State
Authority. A nominated member of the Taluk Committee shall be
removed by the State Government on the recommendation of the Executive Chairman
of the State Authority for such removal on any of the grounds mentioned in
Regulation 10(1) (a) to (e) when the recommendation is made after affording the
member a reasonable opportunity to be heard. In addition to the functions assigned to it under
the Act and Rules, the Taluk Committee shall perform the following functions
subject to the general superintendence of the District and State Authorities: (1) receive applications for legal services in respect of cases in all the Courts
functioning in the Taluk area of the Committee; (2) ensure that the case of every applicant is promptly processed and
disposed of. (3) consider the cases brought before it for legal services including
pre-litigation matters and decide as to what extent legal services can be made
available to the applicant; (4) persuade the parties to appear before it and make efforts to bring about
a just settlement between them and, if necessary, also refuse the legal
services, if in its opinion the conciliation has failed due to any fault on the
part of the applicant. (5) encourage and promote conciliation and settlement in all legal
proceedings including pre-litigation matters. (6) take proceedings for the recovery of costs awarded to a person to whom
the legal services were rendered. (7) perform such other functions and discharge such other duties as the
District Authority or the State Authority may entrust to it from time to time. CHAPTER – VII Conduct of Business The Member-Secretary of the State Authority, with
the prior approval of the Executive Chairman of the State Authority, shall
convene meeting of the State Authority at least [4][once in
three months and as frequently as the business may warrant. The Secretary of the High Court Committee or of the
District Authority with the prior approval of the Chairman of the respective
authority, and the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall
convene meetings of the respective bodies at least once in two months and as
frequently as the business may warrant. In the absence of the Executive Chairman of the
State Authority or of the Chairman of the High Court Committee, the District
Authority or the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, one of the Ex-officio
Members chosen by the Members present at the meeting, shall preside over the
meeting of the respective bodies. The minutes of the proceedings of every meeting
shall be prepared by the Member-Secretary or the Secretary of the High Court
Committee or the District Authority, as the case may be, as soon as possible
after the meeting and after obtaining the approval of the respective
(sic)airman, thereto. He shall circulate the minutes to the members. The
minutes shall be confirmed and signed by the respective Chairman unless any
member who was present at the meeting to which the minutes relate to has
objected to the minutes as having been incorrectly or incompletely recorded and
has communicated his objections in writing to the Member-Secretary or the
Secretary as the case may be, within seven days of the receipt of the minutes
by him or her. Any objections received shall be considered by the respective
Chairman of the bodies who may make such modifications in the minutes as are
thought proper, and the modified minutes shall then be confirmed and
signed by the respective Chairman. The minutes of the proceedings of every meeting of
the Taluk Committee shall be prepared under the guidance of the Chairman by
such officer as he directs. The minutes of the meeting shall be circulated to
the members and be confirmed and signed by the Chairman in similar manner as is
provided for the High Court Committee or the District Authority, as for as
possible. All decisions of the State Authority, High Court
Committee, District Authority, or the Taluk Committee shall be by way of
resolutions passed in the meeting and in the event of any dissension the
decision of the Executive Chairman or the Chairman of the different other
bodies as the case may be, shall be final. Provided that in such matters as may be directed by
the Executive Chairman or the Chairman of the different other bodies as the
case may be, the decision of the State authority or of the High Court
Committee, the District Authority or the Taluk Committee may be taken by
circulation. (a) The Member Secretary of the State Authority is authorised to spend an
amount not exceeding Rs. [5][500/-
(Rupees five Hundred only) for a meeting of the State Authority, and an amount
not exceeding Rs. 300/- (Rupees Three Hundred only) for a meeting of any
Sub-Committee, from out of the Legal Aid Fund. (b) The Member-Secretary may sanction an amount not exceeding Rs. [6][500/-
(Rupees Five Hundred only) for each meeting of the High Court Committee on the
requisition of the Secretary, of the Committee. (c) The Chairman of the District Authority may incur an expenditure not
exceeding Rs. [7][300/-
(Rupees Three Hundred only) for a meeting of the District Authority. (d) The Chairman of the District Authority is authorised to sanction an
amount not exceeding Rs. [8][200/-
(Rupees Two Hundred only) from out of the district Legal Aid Fund for each
meeting of the Taluk Committee on the requisition of the Chairman of the Taluk
Committee. A person seeking legal services by the High Court
Legal Services Committee, District Authority or the Taluk Committee, as the
case may be, shall send an application under affidavit containing the brief
facts of the case, and where the applicant is a person as stipulated in Section
12(h) of the Act, not being one covered under any other clauses of that
Section, the affidavit shall also state the details of the properties possessed
by him and his annual income from all sources. The applications shall be scrutinized and disposed
of by the Secretaries of the High Court Committee, District Authority and by
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, giving such directions
as to allowing of such legal services as are thought necessary; Provided that all orders passed by the Secretaries
of the High Court Committee or of the District Authority rejecting legal
services shall be passed after obtaining order of the respective Chairman; Provided further that all orders of grant of legal
services by the Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority
shall be subject to control and modifications by the Chairman of the respective
bodies. The High Court Committee, the District Authority
and the Taluk Committee shall prepare [two][9] panels
of Advocates, for entrustment of the cases for rendering legal services, as
follows: (i) Advocates who
volunteer to render legal services gratuitously; [10][(ii) Advocates who are willing to work on payment of honorarium/on
payment of the amount of fee as prescribed in the schedule or such other fee as
may be fixed by the executive chairman of the State Authority or the chairman
of the District Authority or the Taluk Committee as the case may be the matters
other than those specified in the Schedule. Provided that the Advocate members of the State
Authority, High Court Committee, District Authority or the Taluk Committee, may
always volunteer to render legal services gratutiously; Provided further that in choosing the panels care
shall be taken to empanel Advocates of repute who are specially interested in
implementation of legal services scheme. In suitable cases Advocates may be paid one third
of the fees at the commencement of the case or at intermediate stage. The High Court Committee, the District Authority and
the Taluk Committee shall identity retired Judicial Officers or Advocates of
high reputation to act as Duty Counsel, whose duties and functions are to be
specified by the Executive Chairman of the State Authority. The legal practitioner conducting a case on behalf
of a person receiving the services shall, as soon as the case is decided, apply
for a copy of judgment and decree if any, and immediately on receipt of the
copies, shall submit them to the body appointing him together with his detailed
comments. The Taluk Committee, the District Authority or the High Court
Committee, as the case may be, shall take steps to recover the expenses of the
services rendered from out of the costs, if any, awarded by the Court to the
person concerned and received by him. Such bodies may also consider, where
necessary, the feasibility of filing an appeal, revision or a Writ Petition if (i) the case has been decided against the person; (ii) the case is prima/arte fit taking to such remedies; (iii) the aided person has applied for legal services for taking recourse to
such remedies; Provided that it will not be necessary to make a
fresh enquiry as to eligibility under Section 12(h) of the Act, wherever
applicable, unless the Taluk Committee, the District Authority or the High
Court Committee, as the case may be, is of the opinion that a change of
circumstances has taken place since the grant of the legal services; The Legal Services admissible under these
Regulations shall be in all or any of the following modes, namely: (a) legal advice by a legal practitioner on the list of legal practitioners
maintained by the Taluk Committee, the District Authority and the High Court
Committee, or of any voluntary organisation sponsored and encouraged by the
State Authority. (b) Legal Services in the form of (i) representation of an entitled person by a legal practitioner on the list
in the legal proceedings; (ii) payment to the entitled person or on his behalf- (a) of Court fee; (b) of process fee and expenses of witnesses; (c) of charges for preparation of paper books, including charges for
Printing and translation of documents; (d) of charges for the supply of certified copies of judgment, decrees,
orders and other documents; (e) of any amount on any other account in any legal proceedings; No legal practitioner who is rendering legal
services under these Regulations shall charge any remuneration in any form,
whatsoever, from any person to whom legal services are rendered. The Taluk committee, the District Authority or the
High Court Committee, as the case may be, giving legal services to a person
shall, before giving such legal services, obtain from such person an agreement
containing such general conditions as the Taluk Committee, or the District
Authority, or the High Court Committee, as the case may be, may consider fit to
impose having regard to the special facts and circumstances of the case. Provided that the agreement shall invariably
contain the following condition, namely; In consideration of the legal services received,
the applicant hereby agrees to repay, the same to the Taluk Committee/ the
District Authority/the High Court Committee, in the event of his ultimate
success in the legal proceedings for which he was given the services, on
realization of assets or costs either in the legal proceedings or in other
connected legal proceedings yielding income more than the amount of services
allowed. The High Court Committee, District Authority and
the Taluk Committee may sanction monetary aid to the applicants as fees of
Advocates, to the extent as provided for in the schedule of the Regulations. With the previous sanction of the State Authority
an Advocate may be engaged to conduct batch cases or similar class of cases at
fixed consolidated fees per day or month. The amounts sanctioned by the High Court Committee
shall be paid by the State Authority from the State Legal Aid Fund. The amounts
sanctioned by the Taluk Committee shall be paid by the District Authority from
the District Legal Aid Fund. CHAPTER-IX Lok Adalats (1) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall convene and
organize Lok Adalats at regular intervals; Provided that the Secretary of the High Court
Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as
the case may be, shall convene a Lok Adalat as soon as about 30 cases referred
to it under Section 20 of the Act or otherwise are available for being taken
up. (2) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee as the case may be, may associate the
members of the legal profession, college students, social organisations,
charitable and philanthropic institutions and other similar organisations with
the Lok Adalats. (1) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall inform the State
Authority about the proposal to organize the Lok Adalat well before the date on
which the Lok Adalat is proposed to be organised and furnish the following
information to the State Authority: (i) the place and the date on which the Lok Adult is proposed to be
organised; (ii) whether some of the organisations referred to in Regulations 29 (2) have
agreed to associate themselves with the Lok Adalat; (iii) categories and nature of cases, viz., pending cases or pre-litigation
disputes, or both proposed to be placed before the Lok Adalat; (iv) number of cases proposed to be brought before the Lok Adalat; (v) any other information relevant to the convening and organizing of the
Lok Adalat. The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the
District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be,
convening and organizing the Lok Adalat, shall inform every litigant whose case
is referred to the Lok Adalat, well in time, so as to afford him an opportunity
to prepare himself for the Lok Adalat. 1.
At the High Court Level. The Secretary of the High Court Committee
organizing the Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalats, each
Bench Comprising two or three of the following: (i) a sitting or retired Judge of the High Court; (ii) a senior member of the Legal Profession; (iii) a (local) social worker of repute who is engaged in the upliftment of
the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes, Women, Children, Rural and Urban Labour and interested in the
implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes. 2.
At District Level. The Secretary of the District Authority organizing
the Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalats, each Bench
comprising two or three of the following: (i) a sitting or retired Judicial Officer; (ii) a senior member of the Local Bar; and (iii) a (local) social worker of repute who is engaged 'in the upliftment of
the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes, Women, Children, Rural and Urban Labour and interested in the
implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes. 3.
At Taluk Level. The Chairman of the Taluk Committee organizing the
Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalat, each Bench comprising
two or three of the following: (i) a sitting or retired Judicial Officer; (ii) a senior member of the local Bar; and (iii) a (local) social worker of repute who is engaged in the upliftment of
the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
Tribes, Women, Children, Rural and Urban Labour and interested in the
implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes. 4.
The Chirman of the High Court
Committee, the District Authority and the Taluk Committee, may directly
supervise the Lok Adalats organised by the respective bodies. Every Lok Adalat shall be conducted with the
solemnity attached to a Court and avoiding any ostentatious show. The expenditure incurred for organizing a Lok
Adalat shall not exceed 1[Rs. 1000/- (Rupees One thousand only)
including expenditure incurred for publicity etc.6 Necessary help from publicity media like Press,
Radio and Television can be taken in giving publicity of the proposed Lok
Adalat. Non-political and voluntary services, institutions,
may partake in organizing Lok Adalat by arranging free distribution of food
packets to the public gathered at the Lok Adalat. (1) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, may call for the
judicial records of those pending cases which are referred to the Lok Adalat
under Section 20 of the Act from the concerned Courts. (2) If any case is referred to the Lok Adalat at the pre-litigation stage,
the version of each party shall be obtained by the Secretary of the High Court
Committee, or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as
the case may be, to be placed before the Lok Adalat. (3) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall
be responsible for the safe custody of the records from the time he
receives them from the Court till they are returned. (4) Every judicial authority is expected to co-operate in transmission of
the Court records. (5) The judicial records shall be returned within ten days of the Lok Adalat
irrespective of whether or not the case is settled by the Lok Adalat with an
endorsement about the result of the proceedings. (1) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall assign specific
cases to each Bench of the Lok Adalat. (2) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, prepare a "cause
list" for each Bench of the Lok Adalat and intimate the same to all
concerned at least two days before the date of the Lok Adalat. (3) Every Bench of the Lok Adalat shall make sincere efforts to bring about
a conciliatory settlement in every case put before it without bringing about
any kind of coercion, threat or undue influence, allurement or
misrepresentation. (a) A Lok Adalat may be organised at such time and place and on such days
preferably on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays as the State Authority, High
Court Committee, District Authority, Taluk Committee, as the case may be, organizing
the Lok Adalat deems appropriate. (b) The Lok Adalat shall be held at a public place. (1) Every Award of the Lok Adalat shall be signed by the panel constituting
the Lok Adalat. (2) The Original Award shall form part of the judicial records and a copy of
the Award shall be given to each of the parties [11][certifying
them to be true by the Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee or
the District Legal Services Authority or the Chairman of the Mandal Legal
Service Committees as the case may be are authorised to sign true copies of the
Award]. (1) Every Award of the Lok Adalat shall be categorical and lucid and shall
be written in the language used in the local courts. The Award may be drawn up
in English or in the Regional language. (2) The parties to the dispute shall be required to affix their signatures
or, as the case may be, thumb impression on the Award of the Lok Adalat. At the conclusion of the session of the Lok Adalat
the Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the
Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall compile the results
for submission to the State Authority. The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the
District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be,
shall maintain a panel of retired Judges, Advocates, Social Workers etc.,
possessing qualifications and experience prescribed under Section 28(o) of the
Act, who may work in Lok Adalats. (1) The Judge of the Lok Adalat Bench, if he is are tired judicial officer,
and other members, shall be provided with conveyance or conveyance allowance as
per actuals for to and fro journey between their residence and the place of Lok
Adalat. (2) (i) The Presiding Officer of the Lok Adalats held at District and Taluk
Levels, who is not a serving judicial officer shall be entitled to honorarium
1[remuneration of 200/- per day]. (ii) The other members of the Lok Adalats held at
District and Taluk levels shall be entitled to honorarium [12][remuneration
of Rs. 125/- per day]. (iii) The Presiding Officer of the Lok Adalats held
at High Court level who is not a sitting Judge shall also be entitled to
honorarium [13][remuneration
of Rs. 500/- per day]. (iv) The other members of the Lok Adalat held at
High Court level shall be entitled to honorarium [14][remuneration
of Rs. 300/- per day]. (1) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall maintain a
Register wherein all the cases received by him by way of reference to the Lok
Adalat shall be entered giving particulars of the (i) date of the receipt; (ii) nature of the case; (iii) such other particulars as may be deemed necessary; and (iv) date of settlement and return of the case file. (2) When the case is finally disposed of by the Lok Adalat, an appropriate
entry will be made in the Register. The expenditure for holding a Legal Literacy Camp
shall not exceed Rs. 2,000/- (Rupees two thousand only) by the State Authority,
District Authority and the Mandal Committee, as the case may be]".[15] (1) The High Court Committee and the District Authority shall submit the
Budget proposals to the State Authority on financial year basis in respect of
the Lok Adalat Scheme. (2) The Taluk Committee shall submit the Budget proposals to the District
Authority on financial year basis in respect of the Lok Adalat Scheme. (3) The expenditure for Lok Adalat Scheme shall constitute 'Non-Plan'
expenditure and may be met out of the grants received by the High Court
Committee and the District Authority and the Taluk Committee as the case may
be. (1) The Chairman of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall exercise complete and full
control over the expenditure to be incurred on the Lok Adalats. (2) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority, as
the case may be, shall render true and proper accounts to the State Authority
every quarter. (3) The Chairman of the Taluk Committee shall render true and proper
accounts to the District Authority every month. On a request received from the High Court Committee
or the District Authority or the Taluk Committee as the case may be, the State
Authority may release special grants for convening and holding of Lok Adalats,
if considered necessary. (1) The appearance of lawyers on behalf of the parties at the Lok Adalat
shall not be refused. (2) No fee shall be payable by the parties in respect of matters or cases
brought before or referred to a Lok Adalat. (3) The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or
the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case maybe, shall provide all
assistance as may be necessary to the Lok Adalats. (4) Every Bench of the Lok Adalat may evolve its own procedure for
conducting the proceedings before it and shall not be bound by either the Civil
Procedure Code or the Evidence Act or the Code of Criminal Procedure subject,
however, to the principles of natural justice. THE A.P.
STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY REGULATIONS (Vide Regulation No. 28) I. High Court Legal Services Committee Rs. Writ Petition 500-00 Writ Appeal 750-00 Letters Patent Appeal 750-00 Second Appeal 750-00 First Appeal 1,000-00 Civil Miscellaneous Appeal 500-00 Civil Revision Petition 500-00 Criminal Appeal & Criminal Revision 500-00 Criminal Appeal (Division Bench) 1,000-00 II. District Legal Services Authority: For a Civil Suit before a Subordinate Court or District Court. 750-00 O.Ps. in Subordinate Court or District Court (excluding transfer and Pauper O.Ps.) 500-00 Criminal cases in Asst. Sessions Court or Sessions Court (in case of Hostile Cases Rs. 250/- only) 500-00 III. Taluk Legal Services Committee: For a Criminal Cases including Maintenance Cases 500-00 For a Civil Suit 500-00 For Bail Petition (if the fee in the main case is not paid to the Counsel). 200-00 IV. Opinion Fees 100-00 Note: No separate fees is payable for miscellaneous
petitions, interlocutory applications or any other kind of applications filed
or contested in the case for which the engagement is made. [1] R.S. to Part II (Ext.) A.P. Gazette, dt. 16-8-1996. [2] Came into force w.e.f. 16-8-1996 (vide Notification No.
2917/ISA/96). [3] The words "and secretary" deleted by Roc No.
4265/2 SA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [4] Substituted by ROC No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [5] Substituted by ROC No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [6] Substituted by ROC No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [7] Substituted by ROC No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [8] Substituted by ROC No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [9] Substituted for word
'three' by Roc No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [10] Substituted for
clauses (ii) and (iii) by ibid. [11] Substituted by Roc.
No. 65/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [12] Substituted for the
words Rs. 500/- by Roc. No. 4265/LAS/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [13] Substituted by ROC
No. 4265/LSA/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [14] Substituted for the
words Rs. 500/- by Roc. No. 4265/LAS/99, dt. 24-6-1999. [15] Regulation 43-A added
by Roc No. 4560/LSA/2000, dt. 20-7-2000 vide R.S. to Part-II (Ext.) A.P.
Gazette dt. 21-12-2000.THE
ANDHRA PRADESH (STATE) LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY REGULATIONS, 1996
PREAMBLE