NALSA announced that it will not renew the contracts of lawyers under the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh amid ongoing legal protests.
NALSA to Not Renew LADCS Counsel Contracts Following Punjab Lawyers' Strike
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has declared that it will cease renewing contracts of lawyers appointed under the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh after September 2026. This decision follows recent strikes by lawyers in the region.
Additionally, NALSA stated that existing contracts for Legal Aid Defence Counsel in other States and Union Territories will not be renewed upon completion of their current tenure. This move aligns with a broader strategy to reassess the effectiveness and performance of the legal aid system in the context of recent challenges faced by legal practitioners in various jurisdictions.
"The District Judges of the concerned districts will assign legal aid matters to members of the bar on the basis of merit and performance," NALSA indicated in its announcement.
This shift may signal significant changes in the management of legal aid services across jurisdictions, which could affect practitioners involved in legal aid and the delivery of services to vulnerable populations.
Lawyers engaged in legal aid work must remain aware of these developments as they may need to adapt to the new criteria and guidelines for legal aid assignments in the near future.
Citations
- NALSA Announcement (2026)
