DLSA/TLSC

1. Persons belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST)
2. Woman & Children
3. Factory workers
4. Victim of group clashes, violence, flood, drought, Earthquake, Industrial destruction etc.
5. Victim of communal clashes
6. Persons suffering from mental or any other disability
7. Persons who are under the custody of protection home mental hospital etc.,
8. Bonded labours and victims of human trafficking
9. All category of persons whose Annual Income is below Rs. 3 Lakh.(Rs.3,00,000/-)
10. All category of persons whose Annual Income is below Rs.3 lakhs are eligible for free legal aid in Apex Court (Supreme Court).

Legal Aid : Legal Services Authority
The Legal Service Authority is creating legal awareness, legal aid and settlement of disputes through amicable settlement before Lok adalath and Mediation are the main aims and functions of the Authority.

Legal awareness programmes are taken up for empowerment of legal knowledge to all the Citizens in general to the weaker sections of the society in particular, various activities are taken up to reach the vulnerable sections of the society such as SC/ST, Women & Children, Industrial Labourers etc.,

The Legal Services Authority provides legal aid by way of providing services of able efficient services of Advocates, any person, who fulfills the criteria is entitled for the legal aid. The Legal Services Authority is functioning in the name of DLSA at District Level and TLSC’s at Taluk Level.

1. DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORITY [DLSA]

   DLSA, Chikkamagaluru has been functioning effectively under the guidance of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi [NALSA] & Karnataka Legal Services Authority [KSLSA].

2. TALUK LEGAL SERVICES COMMITTEE [TLSC].

   Taluk Legal Services Committee have been established in all the taluk Court Complex, functioning effectively under the guidence of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi [NALSA] & Karnataka State Legal Services Authority [KSLSA] and District Legal Services Authority [DLSA].

   The Senior Civil Judge shall be the Ex-officio Chairman and Civil Judge working in taluk where the committee is constituted shall be the Member Secretary of respective TLSC’s.

3. LOK ADALATH:-

   Lok Adalaths and Megal Lok Adalaths are organized by the District Legal Services Authority and Taluk Legal Services Committees of Chikkamagaluru District. Conciliation is arranged between the parties to the litigation to come to an amicable settlement before the Lok adalts and such settlement reached before Lok Adalaths becomes a record having equal status as that of a Judgment/Decree of the Court.

   ‘Lok Adalath’ is being conducted on 2nd Saturday of every month regularly and ‘National Lok Adalath’ is being conducted on 2nd Saturday Bi-monthly. Pending cases are being referred to Lok Adalath for settlement from the regular Courts. Pre-litigation cases pertaining to service provider matters are also taken up for settlement in Lok Adalth.

4. MEDIATION CENTER:-

   Mediation process is functioning in the District Court premises, Chikkamagaluru.

   Mediation is one of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods contemplated under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party (Trained Mediator) assists the disputing parties to effectively resolve their disputes without going to trial. Mediation provides a unique opportunity to the parties to voluntarily settle their disputes with the involvement and participation of all the parties and their advocates.

   A neutral third party called “Mediator” uses special negotiation skills and communication techniques to help litigants bridge their differences and find a solution to their dispute. Mediation always leaves the decision making power with the parties.

   A Mediator does not decide what is fair or right or apportion blame. Rather, a mediator acts as a catalyst to bring the two disputing parties together by defining issues and eliminating obstacles for communication and settlement.

5. LEGAL AID CLINICS:-

   Legal Aid Clinics have been established in all the District & Taluka Courts of Chikkamagaluru District and Panel Advocates have been appointed to all the Front Office at District & Taluka Courts of Chikkamagaluru District, Senior Citizen Centre, SP Office Chikkamagaluru, District Prison Chikkamagaluru and Village care support centers to provide legal advice and to help the Marginalised people, Under Trial Prisoners, Women & Children, Schedule caste/Schedule Tribe and people having income less than three lakh per annum.

Notifications under sections 26(3)(b), 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(b) of The Right To Information Act, 2005