Court Procedure and Legal Awareness for Judiciary Staff · Chapter 8

Legal Aid, Lok Adalats, ADR, Service Rules Awareness, Conduct and Ethics

What to remember

Free legal aid is a constitutional promise. Article 39A (Directive Principle) says the State must give free legal aid so that no citizen loses justice because of poverty. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 gives it a legal structure.
A Lok Adalat award is final. It is treated as a decree of a civil court, no appeal lies against it, and the court fee paid in the case is refunded.
A court employee must be honest, impartial and discreet. The conduct rules protect the dignity of the court, and breaking them leads to disciplinary action.

1. Legal aid: the idea and the law

Justice must be open to all, rich or poor. Three ideas work together.

Article 14 and Article 21 support equality before law and a fair procedure.
Article 39A (inserted by the 42nd Amendment) directs the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid.
The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 created the national structure. It came into force in 1995.

The Supreme Court has said that free legal aid is part of the right to a fair trial under Article 21. A poor accused who is not given a lawyer can have the trial set aside. Courts must inform the accused of this right. In sessions trials the State provides a lawyer at its own cost if the accused has none.

2. The structure of legal services

Level	Body	Head (general idea)
National	National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)	Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief; a senior Supreme Court judge is the Executive Chairman
State	State Legal Services Authority (SLSA)	Chief Justice of the High Court is the Patron-in-Chief; a High Court judge is the Executive Chairman
High Court	High Court Legal Services Committee	A sitting High Court judge
District	District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)	The District Judge is the Chairman
Taluk / Mandal	Taluk Legal Services Committee	Senior civil judge of the taluk
Supreme Court	Supreme Court Legal Services Committee	A sitting Supreme Court judge

In Andhra Pradesh, the State Legal Services Authority works from the High Court area, with District Legal Services Authorities and mandal-level committees below it. Para-legal volunteers, legal aid clinics and legal literacy camps carry the services to villages. Panel lawyers are paid by the authority.

3. Who gets free legal services

Section 12 of the Act lists those who are entitled. In simple words, they include:

Members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Victims of human trafficking or forced labour.
Women and children.
Persons with disabilities.
Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster.
Industrial workmen.
Persons in custody, including protective custody.
Persons whose annual income is below the limit set by the State (the limit is changed from time to time; check the latest order).

The services include payment of court fee and other charges, a lawyer, copies of the record, translation, and the cost of preparing appeals. An applicant files a simple application. The authority may refuse aid where it finds that the person has no prima facie case.

4. Lok Adalat (People's Court)

Lok Adalats settle disputes by agreement, in a friendly manner, without strict rules of procedure.

Key features:

Chapter VI of the Legal Services Authorities Act deals with Lok Adalats.
It is led by serving or retired judicial officers, with social workers or lawyers as members.
It can take up cases pending in a court and also pre-litigation disputes which have not been filed.
No court fee is charged for a pre-litigation matter. If a pending case is settled, the court fee paid is refunded.
Both parties must agree. The Lok Adalat cannot force a decision.
The award is deemed a decree of a civil court and is final and binding. No appeal lies against it. An unhappy party may only file a writ petition on very limited grounds, or start the case again in court if no settlement was reached.
Criminal cases: only compoundable offences are taken up. Non-compoundable offences cannot be settled.
National Lok Adalats are held on the same day all over the country, on a fixed subject or on all subjects.
Permanent Lok Adalats (Chapter VI-A) handle disputes about public utility services such as transport, postal, telephone, power, water, insurance and hospitals. They can decide on merits if the parties do not agree. Matters involving an offence not compoundable under the law are excluded.

Point	Lok Adalat	Regular court
Procedure	Informal, by agreement	Formal, as per the Code
Court fee	Refunded on settlement	Not refunded
Appeal	None	Provided by law
Speed	Quick, often the same day	Often slow
Outcome	Compromise	Decision on merits

5. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

ADR is the name for ways of solving disputes outside regular trial. Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure tells a civil court to look at settlement outside court where there are elements of a settlement. It lists four ways:

1. Arbitration (the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996).
2. Conciliation (the same Act).
3. Judicial settlement, including settlement through a Lok Adalat.
4. Mediation.

Method	Who decides	Result
Arbitration	A neutral arbitrator gives an award	Binding; enforceable like a decree after the time for challenge
Conciliation	The conciliator proposes terms	Binding if the parties sign the settlement
Mediation	A trained mediator only helps; the parties decide	A settlement agreement
Lok Adalat	Panel helps in compromise	Award equal to a decree
Judicial settlement	Court refers the case to another forum	Compromise recorded

Mediation also has a statute now: the Mediation Act, 2023. It covers pre-litigation mediation, community mediation and recognition of settlement agreements. The arbitration law allows interim relief from the court, and an award may be set aside only on narrow grounds.

6. Service rules awareness

Ministerial and subordinate staff of the district judiciary in Andhra Pradesh are governed by service rules made for the State judicial service. Candidates should know the following in general terms (check the latest rules for details):

Recruitment is through the High Court or the authorities named in the rules, with reservation as per State policy.
A fixed period of probation applies, after which the employee is confirmed if work is satisfactory.
The rules classify posts into categories and set qualifications, scales and promotion channels.
Control over the district judiciary and its staff rests with the High Court (Article 235 for judicial officers; the High Court's Chief Justice appoints its own officers and servants under Article 229).
Staff can be transferred, promoted, suspended, or punished only as per procedure. The appointing authority conducts a disciplinary inquiry and gives the employee a chance to answer the charges.
Appeals and review are available against major penalties.

7. Conduct and ethics

A court employee deals with litigants, advocates and the public. Public faith in the court rests on honest staff.

Duties:

Integrity, honesty and devotion to duty.
Punctuality and regular attendance; no leaving the office without permission.
Courtesy to the public; no rudeness or arrogance.
Impartiality: no favour to a lawyer or party.
Confidentiality: do not reveal orders before they are pronounced, nor the contents of files, nor the leanings of the judge.
Prompt and careful handling of files, registers and cash.

Prohibitions:

Accepting gifts, bribes or illegal gratification (it is a criminal offence as well as misconduct).
Acting as a "tout" or discussing a case with a party for gain.
Taking part in politics or in demonstrations against the Government, in the way the conduct rules bar.
Drinking or being intoxicated in the office.
Misusing office records or social media for comment on court matters.
Absence without leave or false statements about leave, age, qualification or caste.

Conduct	Action
Minor lapse (delay, carelessness)	Censure, warning, recovery of loss
Serious misconduct (bribery, forgery)	Suspension, reduction in rank, removal or dismissal after inquiry
Offence under criminal law	Case in addition to departmental action

Natural justice applies in every inquiry: the employee must be told the charges, given a fair chance to explain, and the decision must be reasoned.

Exam traps

Article 39A vs Article 21: Article 39A is a Directive Principle on free legal aid; Article 21 is a Fundamental Right that includes fair trial.
NALSA head: the Chief Justice of India is Patron-in-Chief; the Executive Chairman is a senior Supreme Court judge.
DLSA head: the District Judge is chairman, not the Collector.
Lok Adalat vs court: a Lok Adalat award has no appeal; a court decree has.
Pre-litigation vs pending: a pre-litigation Lok Adalat case has no court fee; in a pending case the fee is refunded.
Permanent Lok Adalat: it covers public utility services, and may decide on merits if no settlement.
Arbitration vs mediation: the arbitrator decides; a mediator only helps.
Gift vs gratitude: even a small gift from a litigant is misconduct.

One-liners

1. Article 39A gives the direction on free legal aid.
2. The Legal Services Authorities Act was passed in 1987.
3. NALSA is the apex legal services body.
4. DLSA is headed by the District Judge.
5. Section 12 lists persons entitled to free legal services.
6. A Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree.
7. No appeal lies against a Lok Adalat award.
8. Court fee is refunded on settlement in a Lok Adalat.
9. Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure lists ADR methods.
10. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act was passed in 1996.
11. The Mediation Act was passed in 2023.
12. Control over district court staff rests with the High Court.

Practice questions

Which Article of the Constitution directs the State to provide free legal aid?
1. Article 51A
2. Article 21A
3. Article 39A
4. Article 14
Answer
C. Article 39A
Article 39A is the Directive Principle on equal justice and free legal aid.
The Legal Services Authorities Act was passed in
1. 1987
2. 2019
3. 1950
4. 2002
Answer
A. 1987
The Act dates from 1987.
Article 39A was inserted into the Constitution by the
1. 44th Amendment
2. 61st Amendment
3. 42nd Amendment
4. 73rd Amendment
Answer
C. 42nd Amendment
The 42nd Amendment added Article 39A.
The apex body for legal services in India is
1. NALSA
2. SLSA
3. NITI Aayog
4. NHRC
Answer
A. NALSA
NALSA is the National Legal Services Authority.
The Chairman of a District Legal Services Authority is the
1. District Medical Officer
2. District Judge
3. Collector
4. Superintendent of Police
Answer
B. District Judge
The District Judge heads the DLSA.
The Patron-in-Chief of NALSA is the
1. Law Minister
2. President of India
3. Prime Minister
4. Chief Justice of India
Answer
D. Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
Which section of the Legal Services Authorities Act lists persons entitled to free legal services?
1. Section 12
2. Section 21
3. Section 3
4. Section 89
Answer
A. Section 12
Section 12 gives the eligibility list.
Which of the following is entitled to free legal aid irrespective of income?
1. A company director
2. A landlord
3. A tax consultant
4. A member of a Scheduled Caste
Answer
D. A member of a Scheduled Caste
SC and ST members are listed in the Act.
A Lok Adalat award is treated as
1. A recommendation
2. An arbitral opinion
3. A decree of a civil court
4. A police report
Answer
C. A decree of a civil court
The award is deemed a civil court decree.
An appeal against a Lok Adalat award
1. Lies to the High Court
2. Does not lie
3. Lies to the District Court
4. Lies to the Collector
Answer
B. Does not lie
The award is final; no appeal lies.
When a pending case is settled in a Lok Adalat, the court fee paid is
1. Kept as costs
2. Doubled
3. Refunded
4. Forfeited
Answer
C. Refunded
The Act provides refund of court fee.
Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure relates to
1. Review
2. Execution
3. Appeal
4. Settlement of disputes outside court
Answer
D. Settlement of disputes outside court
Section 89 lists ADR methods.
Which of the following is NOT listed in Section 89 as a mode of settlement outside court?
1. Trial by jury
2. Arbitration
3. Judicial settlement including Lok Adalat
4. Mediation
Answer
A. Trial by jury
Section 89 does not provide for jury trial.
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act was passed in
1. 2006
2. 1996
3. 1976
4. 2016
Answer
B. 1996
The Act is of 1996.
The statute on mediation in India was enacted in
1. 2013
2. 2003
3. 2023
4. 1993
Answer
C. 2023
The Mediation Act is of 2023.
Under Article 235, control over district judiciary vests in the
1. Public Service Commission
2. High Court
3. Collector
4. Governor alone
Answer
B. High Court
Article 235 vests control in the High Court.
Who appoints the officers and servants of a High Court?
1. President
2. Chief Minister
3. Governor
4. Chief Justice (or a judge he directs)
Answer
D. Chief Justice (or a judge he directs)
Article 229 gives this power to the Chief Justice.
Permanent Lok Adalats deal with
1. Murder cases
2. Land acquisition awards only
3. Public utility services disputes
4. Election petitions
Answer
C. Public utility services disputes
They are for disputes about public utility services.
Which offences can be taken up in a Lok Adalat?
1. Only offences under special Acts
2. Only compoundable offences
3. Only murder
4. All offences
Answer
B. Only compoundable offences
Non-compoundable offences cannot be settled.
Statement 1: Arbitration is decided by a neutral arbitrator who gives an award. Statement 2: In mediation, the mediator imposes the decision.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
A mediator only helps; the parties decide, so 2 is wrong.
Statement 1: A Lok Adalat award can be appealed in the High Court as of right. Statement 2: A Lok Adalat can hear pre-litigation disputes.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
No appeal lies; pre-litigation matters are allowed.
Statement 1: Free legal aid is a part of fair trial under Article 21. Statement 2: Article 39A is a Fundamental Right.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Article 39A is a Directive Principle, so 2 is wrong.
Statement 1: Legal services committees exist at taluk level. Statement 2: A High Court has a Legal Services Committee.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both levels exist in the structure.
Statement 1: Accepting a small gift from a litigant is allowed. Statement 2: Confidential order contents may be revealed before pronouncement.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Both are misconduct.
Match the pair: Patron-in-Chief of a State Legal Services Authority is
1. Chief Justice of the High Court
2. Chief Minister
3. Governor
4. Advocate General
Answer
A. Chief Justice of the High Court
The High Court's Chief Justice is Patron-in-Chief.
Match the pair: Executive Chairman of SLSA is a
1. Retired minister
2. Registrar
3. District Collector
4. Serving High Court judge
Answer
D. Serving High Court judge
A High Court judge is Executive Chairman.
Match the pair: a pre-litigation matter in a Lok Adalat
1. Attracts fee of the decree amount
2. Attracts a stamp of 10 percent
3. Attracts no court fee
4. Attracts a heavy court fee
Answer
C. Attracts no court fee
No court fee is charged for pre-litigation matters.
Which of the following is the best example of a National Lok Adalat?
1. A writ in the High Court
2. A sitting held on one day across the country
3. A tribunal order
4. A trial in a sessions court
Answer
B. A sitting held on one day across the country
National Lok Adalats are held on the same day everywhere.
A court employee is offered a gift by a litigant on a festival. The proper action is to
1. Refuse it and report if pressed
2. Accept as a gift of goodwill
3. Accept and share with colleagues
4. Accept only if small
Answer
A. Refuse it and report if pressed
Gifts from litigants are prohibited.
The principle that an employee must be heard before punishment is called
1. Mens rea
2. Res judicata
3. Stare decisis
4. Natural justice
Answer
D. Natural justice
Fair hearing is part of natural justice.
A clerk reveals the content of a reserved order to a party before pronouncement. This is
1. Breach of confidentiality and misconduct
2. Allowed on request
3. Helpful service
4. Allowed for senior parties
Answer
A. Breach of confidentiality and misconduct
Order contents must not be revealed.
Which of the following is the correct sequence of disciplinary action?
1. Inquiry, punishment, reply, charges
2. Charges, reply, inquiry, decision
3. Reply, charges, punishment, inquiry
4. Punishment, charges, reply, inquiry
Answer
B. Charges, reply, inquiry, decision
Charges are served, a reply is taken, an inquiry held, then a decision.
Which of the following can be treated as misconduct of a court employee?
1. Attending training
2. Maintaining registers
3. Submitting leave on time
4. Acting as a tout
Answer
D. Acting as a tout
Acting as a tout is misconduct.
An accused in a sessions trial cannot afford a lawyer. The correct course is
1. Trial proceeds without a lawyer
2. Bail is granted automatically
3. The State provides a lawyer at its cost
4. The trial is dismissed
Answer
C. The State provides a lawyer at its cost
Legal aid at State cost is available to a poor accused.
A party agrees to settle a pending civil suit in a Lok Adalat. The suit is then
1. Decided on merits by the judge
2. Kept pending until the next year
3. Closed with the award treated as a decree
4. Sent for appeal
Answer
C. Closed with the award treated as a decree
The settlement award has the force of a decree.
Which kind of employee action is NOT a conduct breach?
1. Absence without leave
2. Taking part in banned political activity
3. False statement about age
4. Courteous service to the public
Answer
D. Courteous service to the public
Courtesy is a duty.
Panel lawyers working for legal services are paid by the
1. Municipality
2. Litigant
3. Bar Council only
4. Legal services authority
Answer
D. Legal services authority
The authority pays the panel lawyer.
Para-legal volunteers mainly
1. Spread legal awareness and help access to legal aid
2. Execute decrees
3. Decide cases
4. Issue warrants
Answer
A. Spread legal awareness and help access to legal aid
They carry legal services to villages.
An arbitral award can be set aside by a court only
1. For any mistake of fact
2. On narrow grounds given in the Act
3. On request of any party
4. Never
Answer
B. On narrow grounds given in the Act
Grounds for setting aside are limited.
Which of the following is NOT an aim of ADR?
1. Friendly resolution
2. Faster settlement
3. Increasing pendency
4. Lower cost
Answer
C. Increasing pendency
ADR aims to reduce pendency, not increase it.
The Chairman of a Taluk (Mandal) Legal Services Committee is generally a
1. Bar Association head
2. Senior civil judge of that area
3. Police inspector
4. Tahsildar
Answer
B. Senior civil judge of that area
A judicial officer of the area chairs it.
A conciliator differs from an arbitrator in that the conciliator
1. Proposes terms for the parties to accept
2. Never meets the parties
3. Is always a judge
4. Passes a binding award on his own
Answer
A. Proposes terms for the parties to accept
The conciliator suggests terms; the parties decide.
Which statement about legal aid is correct?
1. It is available only to men
2. It is a facility based on Article 39A and the 1987 Act
3. It is available only in High Courts
4. It is a favour from the State
Answer
B. It is a facility based on Article 39A and the 1987 Act
It rests on Article 39A and the Act.
A Permanent Lok Adalat may decide a dispute on merits when
1. Both parties settle
2. The parties fail to settle
3. The case is time barred
4. The matter is a murder
Answer
B. The parties fail to settle
Unlike a normal Lok Adalat, it can decide on merits if no settlement.
Which of the following best describes confidentiality in the court office?
1. Not disclosing contents of files and pending orders
2. Posting about cases online
3. Sharing file details with friends
4. Selling case information
Answer
A. Not disclosing contents of files and pending orders
Court staff must not disclose official information.

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1.Under which Act was the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which conducts Lok Adalats along with other Legal Services Institutions, constituted? (RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT-I (23/06/2025) Shift 3)
2.Which of the following statements is true about the Permanent Lok Adalat under Section 22-B of The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987? (RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT-I (11/06/2025) Shift 2)
3.Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Lok Adalats have no jurisdiction to settle which of the following cases? (RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I (08/08/2025) Shift 1)
4.According to Section 22C(1) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Permanent Lok Adalats DO NOT have jurisdiction over disputes related to: (RPF Constable 2024 (17/03/2025) Shift 1)
5.The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was established under the: (RRB NTPC GRADUATE CBT 1 (27/03/2026) Shift 1)
6.Which of the following Acts provides the legal framework for conducting the Census in India?
7.Which of the following Acts provides legal status to Lok Adalats in India? (RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I (14/08/2025) Shift 3)
8.Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides that 'It shall be the duty of the Union and the State Public Service Commissions to conduct examinations for appointments to the services of the Union and the services of the State, respectively'? (RPF SI CBT-I 2024 (13/12/2024) Shift 3)
9.Which legal authority gives statutory status to Lok Adalats in India? (RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I (09/09/2025) Shift 2)
10.What was the key purpose of amending the Legal Services Authorities Act in 2002? (RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT-I (20/06/2025) Shift 1)

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