Delhi High Court Directs DSLSA to Monitor Legal Aid Counsel Appearances in District Courts

The Delhi High Court has instructed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to set up a system to track the attendance of legal aid lawyers in District Courts.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma highlighted the need for legal aid lawyers to notify DSLSA about their presence, and a process should be established to handle cases of repeated absences.

The Court also recommended creating a way for litigants to file complaints about lack of representation. This decision followed a situation where a complainant's case was dismissed because his legal aid lawyer did not show up.

The Court reinstated the case, ordering the DSLSA to assign a lawyer and complete pre-summoning evidence within two months.