Supreme Court Legal Services Committee Strengthens Legal Aid for Prisoners' Appeals

In a virtual meeting held today, Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court Judge and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), engaged with the Chairpersons of State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and High Court Legal Services Committees (HCLSCs) from across India. The discussion followed up on the legal aid campaign launched in January 2025, aimed at identifying prisoners in need of assistance for filing Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) or appeals before the Supreme Court.

Legal Aid Campaign Focus

The campaign, conducted in collaboration with the Directors General/Inspectors General of Prisons and High Court Legal Services Committees, seeks to provide aid to the following categories of prisoners:

• Prisoners whose criminal appeals have been dismissed by the High Court.

• Inmates who have served more than half of their sentence and whose bail applications have been rejected by the High Court.

• Prisoners denied remission, even after challenging such decisions before the High Court.

So far, the campaign has identified over 4,200 prisoners in need of legal assistance and has gathered expressions of interest from these inmates to seek legal aid via the SCLSC.

Justice Surya Kant’s Directives

During the meeting, Justice Surya Kant stressed the urgency of the matter and instructed SLSAs and HCLSCs to promptly submit paper books, including certified copies of impugned judgments, to the SCLSC. He emphasized that the campaign should be an ongoing initiative and not just a one-time process.

Justice Kant further underscored the need to ensure that all prisoners are informed of their legal rights from the moment they enter prison, stating that, “Legal aid should be accessible to prisoners from day one of their incarceration.”

He also highlighted the importance of regular monitoring and keeping legally aided prisoners informed about the status of their cases, ensuring that no case is left unattended.