District Legal Services Authority, Nadia

From the early days of Civilization, by the creation of Human race, and the formation of initial society, the demand of 'Justice', and the cry for 'Equality' has gained the importance in terms of its effective implementation. By the passage of time and formation of society, the obliteration and down- sizing the 'oppressive attitude' and to give recognition for 'livelihood with dignity' assumed its shape in Historic background of Civilized Society. As the time and ages passes through, the shape of 'Civilized Society' turned in formation of different 'textures' , firstly at the hands of the Rulers, and subsequently by formation of 'Civilized State', aiming to the establishment of the 'Governance' in the comparative degree, in terms of demand and need of the hours. Thus in essence, since from inception of constructive and composite 'Human Society', the need of 'Governance' in its comparative degree maintained, with the aim of catering 'Justice' amongst the 'human race' on the demand and context of 'Equality'.

In this historical pretext, the 'Constitution of India' enshrined the basic 'fundamental and elementary principle' in its 'Preamble', assuming the character of 'Sovereign', 'Socialist', 'Secular' and 'Democratic Republic'. It also conferred the duty upon the 'State' to implement such Secular , Democratic and Union Republic , in its true sense , to secure all of its citizen the 'Justice', - In 'Social', 'Economic' and 'Political' Sphere with the treatment of 'EQUAL STATUS OF OPPORTUNITY'. Latter, by elaboration of the Elementary Fundamental Principle , envisaged in our 'Constitution' in furtherance, a unique attempt was undertaken by our 'Union Parliament', in turn of putting the first light by publication of 'LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES BILL 1987', (vide Bill 82 of 1987 published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification of Govt. Of India date 24th August, 1987). This was the comprehensive effort on behalf of the State to give shape of the noble 'Idea' and ‘Principle’, enunciated earlier in the 'Preamble' of 'Constitution of India', aimed to provide 'Free and Competent Legal Services to the weaker Section of society' and to ensure that 'opportunity' for securing 'Justice', are not denied to any citizen by reason of 'economic and other disabilities'. This comprehensive and exhaustive effort also meant to redeem the Constitutional pledge, engraphted under article 39A of the Constitution. Subsequently, to achieve and comply this Constitutional mandate, a complete Legislation in the nomenclature of ' Legal Services Authority Act. 1987’ saw the light of the Sun in the Legislative history of this Union Republic of India.

Being equipped with this piece of social Legislation, the Hierarchical structure of State Organs got its shape in terms of formation of 'National Legal Services Authority'- 'NALSA'-as the Supreme Authority in case of formation of 'policy and Schemes' to cater 'free and competent legal service to weaker section of the society', all the 'downtrodden' and 'have-nots' as well as 'deprived' and 'disadvantaged' class of society , with the enduring task of spreading the 'Awareness' and 'Empowerment' , at the fullest stretch , across the country. Likewise , in the downstream hierarchy , from the 'State Level' , reaching up to 'Taluka/Sub-Divisional Level' – the following organs started functioning , in implementing the parental 'scheme'

A) 'State Legal Services Authority' in different 'State Level'

B)'District Legal Services Authority' – in different 'District Level'

C)'Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee's – in different 'Sub-Divisions'/Taluka Level' , in the similar pretext.


Despite the Constitutional mandate and this exhaustive framework in terms of Legislative Enactment, coupled with the hierarchical institutions, our country suffers the 'big -gap' in achieving and actualizing 'the pledge for Justice' envied in the Preamble, by the age old traditional exploitation and ‘religious’, as well as 'racial discrimination’, which put on serious challenge, in ensuring 'Equal Access to Justice' to the people of this Country. The ground and hard reality cannot be denied that, being the 'second largest population' of the world , it put on us and our state machinery the numerous impediment , as well as upon our conventional Justice Dispensation System, to achieve such 'goal' in terms of Constitutional mandate, and in this modern age of 21st Century, unfortunately we are still lagging behind, far from eradicating the burning issues of 'extreme poverty', 'want of food', 'nutrition', and 'public health' to every individual, as well as social security to the weaker section of the society and to disadvantaged people. In this context , despite having this hilly constraints , we had been able to enroot our 'Legal Aid Movement' , with the positive effort in its upmost efficacy to achieve the goal of ensuring Justice to the people at large, particularly to the 'weaker section' and other 'disadvantaged and marginalized class of the society', with the aim of abridging them to have the 'Access' in terms of their 'right to get Justice' on the treatment of equal opportunity, keeping aside the barriers of their social, economic and other 'disabilities' , with our honest effort to achieve the goal of having an 'egalitarian society' , as far as practicable.

In this evolution of catering and ensuring the 'Justice', on the basis of equal treatment, in terms of according 'free and competent Legal Services', garlanding them with the activities of 'Legal Awareness' as well as 'Legal Empowerment' amongst the 19 (nineteen) functional DLSA under the auspices of SLSA, WB, 'District Legal Services Authority, Nadia' is also committed to be a part of this Country wide 'Legal Aid Movement' for effecting and implementing this endeavoring task of facilitating and catering 'Free Legal aid and Assistance', 'Legal Awareness' and 'Empowerment', to the people at large, particularly to the 'have-not’s' and 'weaker' section of the society, and to offer them the benefits of 'Alternative Dispute Resolution' Mechanism and easy access to expeditious and inexpensive 'Justice' , in achieving broader objectives toward reaching and bringing - the 'Justice at Door Steps' in the District of Nadia , West Bengal. Thus 'District Legal Services Authority' and its organs in Sub-Divisional levels , are not separate existence , apart from the conventional Judgeship , but altogether it aims to supplement the established and conventional 'Justice Dispensation System' , with its offering of optional 'Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism' aiming to cater 'easy' , 'inexpensive' and 'expeditious'- 'Justice' to the eligible and approached needies.

At present, the District Legal Services Authority, Nadia is functioning in the entire territorial jurisdiction of District - Nadia , ordained by its present

'Chairman' - Sri. C. L. Singha [District & Sessions Judge , Nadia ] and the present
'Secretary' , Sri. Arijit Mukhopadhyay [ a Judicial Officer in the rank of 'Civil Judge (Sr. Div)'],being its 'first full time Secretary'. In order to achieve the purpose of spreading the objective of 'Legal Services Authority Act. 1987' and to propagate the concept of 'Legal Awareness' as well as 'Legal Empowerment ' across its full stretch , coupled with the aim of catering the 'free and competent Legal Services' to the 'weaker' 'disadvantaged' and 'marginalized' domiciled to its fullest stretch , within the District of Nadia, the District Legal Services Authority, Nadia (DLSA, NADIA) is working by hand in hand , with its three SDLSCs (Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee) , at the respective three 'Sub-Divisions' of the Nadia district, situated at Kalyani, Tehatta and Ranaghat, ordained by its respective 'Chairman – cum - Additional District & Sessions Judge' of the respective 'Sub-Divisions' :-

SDLSC , Kalyani – Sri. Sandip Choudhury
SDLSC , Ranaghat - Smt. Rupanjana Chakraborty
SDLSC , Tehatta - Sri. Narendranath Dasgupta