KeLSA is constituted to give legal services to the people besides conducting Lok Adalats and to give effect to the policies and direction of NALSA.
The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was enacted to constitute Legal Services Authorities for providing free and competent legal services to weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice were not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organize Lok Adalat to ensure that the operation of the legal system promoted justice on a basis of equal opportunity. “Access to Justice for all” is the motto of the Legal Services Authorities. Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) is providing legal aid to the poor, weak, and marginalized sections of the society for establishing their constitutional and legal rights. Many pathbreaking programs like legal literacy classes at school and college levels and for women’s self-help groups are being conducted. We have legal aid panels of senior advocates, junior advocates, and lawyers specialized in various fields. The panels of lawyers are maintained by State Authority, HCLSC, District Legal Services Authorities, and Taluk Legal Services Committees. These lawyers are rendering legal aid to those who are in need of legal assistance. They are also giving classes in various training programs and school and college-level literacy programs. The District Judges of 14 districts officiate as Chairmen of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), and 62 Taluk Legal Service Committees are being officiated by the senior-most Judicial Officers of the respective centers for fulfilling the objectives of the Legal Services Authorities Act. The Permanent Lok Adalats are functioning at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode under the Legal Services Authorities Act with respect to Public Utility Services. Besides, Mediation as an alternative remedy for the settlement of longstanding legal disputes is being explored by the 16 Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) Centres spread across Kerala. Under the leadership of the Executive Chairman, KeLSA is marching forward to achieve the set goal of “Access to Justice for all.”