DHAKA, Jan 2, 2021 (BSS)- The Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee of the national legal body has disposed 766 cases of helpless and insolvent people at government expense.
The journey of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee started on September 2015.
The Supreme Court Legal Aid Office took legal action by accepting 1,342 cases by September 2020. Of these, 766 cases have already been settled, said a report published on the website of the Supreme Court.
There are 24 Fast Appeal (FA), 208 Civil Revision, 83 Criminal Appeal, 70 Criminal Revision, 73 Writ Petition, 65 Leave to Appeal and CP Filing and 819 Jail Appeal among the cases received by the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office.
Also, till September 2020, the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office has provided free legal advice and counseling services to 16,579 people, said the report.
For the past half-century, the country’s poorest people have been able to get free access to the Supreme Court for free.
Already 6 years have passed since the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office provided free legal services.
On September 8, 2015, the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office was officially inaugurated by the Chief Justice of the country.
Before that, the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee was formed.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim of the High Court Division is serving as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.
The Awami League-led government enacted the Legal Aid Act in 2000 to ensure legal services to low-income and vulnerable citizens of the country.
The National Legal Aid Agency was established under this Act.
Legal Aid Committees are now working in all the districts of the country including the Supreme Court under this organization.
The law itself specifies who gets services under its provisions.
The activities of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office are continuing in the midst of the epidemic by maintaining the health and hygiene rules strictly.
Currently, due to this outbreak of Covid-19, legal aid seekers can get legal advice only by contacting the office designated number (01700-784270).
Legal services are also available on the hotline number 16430 (toll free) designated by the National Legal Aid Agency.