Supreme Court Reserved Judgement On Petition Seeking Free And Timely Legal Aid To Convicts

The Supreme Court in the case Suhas Chakma v Union of India & Ors observed and has reserved the judgement on question of free and timely legal aid to convicted prisoners in batch of petitions filed by human rights activist Suhas Chakma wherein the issue is flagged of free legal aid to prisoners and open jail reforms.

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The bench comprising of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K.V. Viswanathan was hearing the present matter.

The bench in the case was assisted by amicus and Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria on the issue of free legal aid.

Before the court, it was argued by Hansaria that despite the existence of Legal Services Authorities at the National, State, District and Taluka level, a large number of convicts are not aware of their right to free legal aid to approach higher courts wherein challenging the convictions of them.

The plea filed states that, 'It being necessary that a system may be put in place so that no convict is deprived of his right for filing an appeal before the Appellate Court due to economic or other reasons.'