Should I file an RTI with NALSA, or with my State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) or District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)?

The answer depends on the level at which your issue arises. NALSA is the apex body at the national level — constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 — and is responsible for national policy, fund allocation to SLSAs, national lok adalat coordination, and NALSA's own schemes. It is a Central Government body and its RTI matters go to the CIC on second appeal. SLSAs (State Legal Services Authorities) operate at the state level under the patronage of the Chief Justice of the respective High Court. They administer legal aid within their state and allocate funds downward to District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs). DLSAs operate at the district level. If your legal aid application was submitted to a DLSA or SLSA and was rejected, not processed, or you were not assigned a counsel — your RTI should be directed to the DLSA or SLSA concerned, not to NALSA. SLSAs and DLSAs are state bodies; their second appeal lies before the relevant State Information Commission (SIC), not the CIC. Only file an RTI with NALSA when your question concerns: (a) national policy, eligibility criteria issued by NALSA; (b) fund allocation by NALSA to an SLSA; (c) NALSA-level schemes or statistics; or (d) NALSA's own administrative functioning.

My legal aid application was rejected by the DLSA. How can RTI help me challenge this?

If your application for free legal aid to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) was rejected — or if you received no response — RTI can be a powerful tool to build a record and challenge the decision. File an RTI with the DLSA (not NALSA, since the rejection is at the district level) asking for: (1) confirmation that your application was received on [date] and the application registration number; (2) whether your application was rejected, and if so, the specific reasons for rejection and the provision under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 or the relevant State scheme under which the rejection was made; (3) the name and designation of the officer who decided your application; and (4) the criteria applied to assess eligibility — specifically the income ceiling and the documentation required. Armed with this RTI response, you can file a complaint before the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), approach the High Court (which exercises patronage over the SLSA), or — in cases where the denial of legal aid prejudices your right to a fair trial — approach the High Court directly under Article 226 of the Constitution. Remember that the second appeal for DLSA and SLSA RTIs goes to the State Information Commission, not the CIC.

What is a Permanent Lok Adalat, and how is it different from a National Lok Adalat?

A Lok Adalat is a forum constituted under Chapter VI of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 for settlement of disputes by conciliation or compromise. There are two distinct types. A National Lok Adalat (or State/District Lok Adalat) is convened periodically by NALSA, SLSAs, or DLSAs for a specific day — cases pending before courts or pre-litigation disputes can be brought before it, and if the parties agree on terms, an award is passed that is deemed a decree of a civil court under Section 21 of the Act. No appeal lies against a Lok Adalat award. A Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA) is a standing body constituted under Chapter VI-A of the Act (inserted by the 2002 amendment) specifically for disputes relating to public utility services — transport, postal, telegraph, insurance, supply of power, water, hospital services, and similar services. Unlike an ordinary Lok Adalat, a PLA can pass an award even if the parties do not reach a settlement — the PLA's award is final and binding. If you have a pending dispute with a public utility service provider and want to know whether a PLA has been constituted in your district and what cases it has handled, RTI to the relevant DLSA or SLSA is the appropriate step.

What do I do if NALSA does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

If the CPIO, NALSA does not provide a response within 30 days of receipt of your RTI application, or if the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, you have two levels of appeal. First Appeal: File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at NALSA. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. You can file the First Appeal directly on the RTI Online portal — log in, navigate to your submitted application, and use the First Appeal option. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with reasons. Second Appeal: If the FAA does not respond adequately or upholds a refusal you consider unjustified, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date on which it should have been made. NALSA is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Law and Justice — the second appeal always goes to the CIC, not to any State Information Commission. The CIC can direct disclosure and impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act for failure to comply without reasonable cause. File the second appeal at cic.gov.in — there is no fee for a second appeal.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with NALSA — Legal Aid Eligibility, Fund Utilisation, Panel Advocates and Lok Adalat Statistics

Central Government

How to File RTI with NALSA — Legal Aid Eligibility, Fund Utilisation, Panel Advocates and Lok Adalat Statistics

Q: Who is entitled to free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987?

Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 lists the categories of persons entitled to free legal services. These are: (a) members of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe; (b) victims of trafficking in human beings or begar and similar forms of forced labour; (c) women and children; (d) persons with disabilities as defined under the relevant disability legislation; (e) persons in custody — whether in a protective home, a psychiatric hospital or nursing home, a jail, a remand home, or any other institution under the custody of the State; (f) persons in circumstances of undue hardship — such as victims of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake, or industrial disaster; (g) industrial workmen; and (h) persons below the income limit prescribed by the State Government in consultation with the respective High Court. The income ceiling varies by state and is periodically revised. NALSA issues notifications on the national income ceiling applicable for Central Government cases. BPL cardholders automatically qualify. If you are unsure whether you qualify, RTI is an effective way to obtain the precise and current eligibility criteria and income ceiling applicable in your state.

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) under the Ministry of Law and Justice for legal aid eligibility criteria, SLSA/DLSA fund utilisation, panel advocate empanelment and removal criteria, lok adalat settlement statistics, and undertrial prisoner legal aid data. Covers Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Law and Justice

Address RTI ToCPIO, National Legal Services Authority, 12/11 Jam Nagar House, Shahajahan Road, New Delhi – 110011

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 with its headquarters at Jam Nagar House, New Delhi. NALSA is the apex body in India's three-tier legal services structure — it sits atop the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) at the state level and the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at the district level. Its mandate is to provide free and competent legal services to weaker sections of society under Article 39-A of the Constitution, which directs the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity.

NALSA is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 — it is a body established by an Act of Parliament, substantially financed from the Consolidated Fund of India, and exercises statutory powers in the public interest. It is bound to appoint a Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), respond to RTI requests within 30 days, and operate within the transparency framework of the RTI Act. NALSA falls under the administrative umbrella of the Ministry of Law and Justice.

This guide explains what information NALSA holds, who should file RTI with NALSA versus an SLSA or DLSA, how to file on rtionline.gov.in, and how to appeal if your application is ignored or refused.

Understanding the Three-Tier Structure: NALSA, SLSA, and DLSA

India's legal services framework is deliberately decentralised to reach citizens at every level. Before filing an RTI, it is critical to identify the correct body — filing an RTI with NALSA for a matter handled by a DLSA will result in a transfer or refusal.

Body	Level	Constituted Under	Key Functions	RTI Portal	Second Appeal
NALSA	National (apex)	Section 3, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987	National policy, fund allocation to SLSAs, NALSA schemes, national lok adalat coordination	rtionline.gov.in	CIC (Central Information Commission)
SLSA (e.g., DLSA, MSLSA)	State	Section 6, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987	State-level legal aid coordination, fund allocation to DLSAs, High Court-level lok adalats	State RTI portal (varies by state)	State Information Commission (SIC)
DLSA	District	Section 9, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987	Legal aid applications at the district level, panel advocate assignment, district lok adalats	State RTI portal (varies by state)	State Information Commission (SIC)

Key rule of thumb: If your question is about a DLSA's handling of your personal legal aid application or a specific SLSA's fund utilisation, file RTI with that SLSA or DLSA — not NALSA. RTI to NALSA is appropriate when your question concerns national policy, NALSA's own schemes, NALSA's fund allocations to SLSAs, or NALSA-level aggregate statistics.

Who is Eligible for Free Legal Aid

Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 guarantees free legal services to the following categories of persons — regardless of the merit of their case:

Members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes
Victims of trafficking in human beings, or of begar and similar forms of forced labour under Article 23 of the Constitution
Women and children — in all civil and criminal matters
Persons with disabilities as defined under relevant disability legislation
Persons in custody — in a jail, remand home, protective home, psychiatric hospital or nursing home, or any other institution under State custody
Victims of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake, or industrial disaster
Industrial workmen
Persons below the income ceiling prescribed by the State Government in consultation with the High Court (this ceiling is periodically revised and varies by state)

BPL (Below Poverty Line) cardholders automatically fall within the income-based eligibility. The income ceiling for Central Government-related proceedings is prescribed by NALSA in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice; for state proceedings, each state government prescribes its own ceiling.

RTI is a practical tool to obtain the current, authoritative eligibility criteria — including the exact income ceiling figure, the required documents for each eligibility category, and whether any recent NALSA or government circular has changed the criteria.

What RTI with NALSA Can Obtain

Legal Aid Eligibility Criteria and Policy

NALSA issues national schemes and policy circulars governing legal aid — including NALSA (Legal Aid to the Poor) Regulations, NALSA (Free and Competent Legal Services) Regulations, and specific schemes for women, children, persons with disabilities, and undertrial prisoners. Through RTI, you can obtain:

The current text of NALSA Regulations governing eligibility, empanelment, and lok adalat procedure
NALSA circulars revising income ceilings or eligibility categories
Instructions issued by NALSA to SLSAs regarding implementation of any specific scheme
The standard operational guidelines for assigning a panel advocate under any NALSA scheme

This is institutional policy information — it is fully disclosable under the RTI Act and should already be on NALSA's website under suo motu disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act.

SLSA Fund Allocation and Utilisation

NALSA receives grants from the central government and allocates funds to SLSAs. These allocations — and the utilisation reports filed by each SLSA — are public financial information. RTI can establish:

The amount allocated by NALSA to each SLSA in a given financial year
The utilisation certificates submitted by SLSAs to NALSA
Any SLSA that has returned unspent funds or whose utilisation has been queried by NALSA
The criteria used by NALSA to determine fund allocation between SLSAs

This data is particularly useful for civil society organisations, legal aid researchers, and citizens seeking to hold the legal services system accountable for the public resources entrusted to it.

Panel Advocate Empanelment and Removal

Legal aid panel advocates are the backbone of the legal services system — they are the lawyers assigned to eligible persons under legal aid. NALSA frames the overarching empanelment criteria; SLSAs and DLSAs implement them. Through RTI to NALSA, you can obtain:

The national empanelment criteria (minimum years of practice, required documentation, selection process)
The procedure for renewal and removal of panel advocates from the panel
Whether NALSA has issued any guidelines on the complaint mechanism for beneficiaries who are dissatisfied with their assigned panel advocate's performance
Statistics on the number of panel advocates empanelled nationally and state-wise

If your concern is about a specific panel advocate's conduct or a local DLSA's empanelment process, that RTI should go to the DLSA or SLSA — not NALSA.

Lok Adalat Statistics

NALSA organises National Lok Adalats on fixed dates across the country — every district simultaneously holds a Lok Adalat on the designated date. NALSA maintains aggregate statistics on these events. RTI can obtain:

Number of National Lok Adalats held in a financial year and the number of cases referred and settled
Category-wise settlement data (motor accident claims, matrimonial disputes, labour matters, cheque bounce cases, land acquisition matters, etc.)
Total compensation/award amounts passed in National Lok Adalats
Number of Permanent Lok Adalats (PLAs) constituted under Chapter VI-A of the 1987 Act and their disposal statistics
State-wise break-up of cases settled

Where to File Your RTI

NALSA is a Central Government body and is accessible through the national RTI Online portal.

Step-by-step on rtionline.gov.in:

Visit rtionline.gov.in and log in or register with your mobile number or email
Click Submit Request
In the Ministry/Department selector, choose: Ministry of Law and Justice
In the next dropdown, select: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
Type your application in the text box (limit: 3,000 characters). If your application is longer, paste a summary and attach the full application as a PDF using the attachment option
Optionally attach supporting documents — your legal aid application rejection letter, correspondence with SLSA/DLSA, or any communication you have received
Pay the ₹10 fee online (net banking, debit/credit card, UPI). BPL cardholders are exempt — select the BPL option and upload a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card
After submission, save your Registration Number — use it at rtionline.gov.in under View Status to track the CPIO's response

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the CPIO, NALSA does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, evasive, or refuses your request, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at NALSA. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA must dispose of the appeal within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with reasons in writing. You can file the First Appeal directly on the RTI Online portal from your application's status page.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA does not respond or the decision is unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date on which it should have been made. NALSA is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Law and Justice — its RTI appeals chain ends at the CIC, not at any State Information Commission. The CIC may impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) under Section 20 of the RTI Act on the CPIO for failure to furnish information without reasonable cause, and may also recommend disciplinary action. File the second appeal at cic.gov.in — there is no fee.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA),
12/11 Jam Nagar House, Shahajahan Road,
New Delhi – 110011

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Legal Aid Eligibility Criteria, Fund Utilisation, Panel Advocate Empanelment, Lok Adalat Statistics and Undertrial Prisoner Aid Data

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Complete Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and request the following information:

Applicant details (where applicable):
  Name: [Your Full Name]
  State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) / District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) concerned (if any): [Name of SLSA / DLSA]
  Legal Aid Application Number (if any): [Application No., if already applied to SLSA/DLSA]
  Date of Application (if any): [DD/MM/YYYY]

Information sought:

1. The complete and current eligibility criteria applied by NALSA and the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) for entitlement to free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 — specifically: (a) the income ceiling currently prescribed for each category of eligible persons; (b) the categories of persons entitled to free legal aid regardless of income (e.g., women, children, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, victims of mass disaster, industrial workmen, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, persons below the poverty line); and (c) whether any category-specific documentation is mandated to establish eligibility, and if so, what documents.

2. The total funds allocated by NALSA to each State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) for the financial years 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 — broken down by SLSA — and the utilisation certificate or expenditure report submitted by each SLSA for these funds.

3. The criteria currently in force for empanelment of advocates as legal aid panel advocates with NALSA/SLSAs/DLSAs — specifically: (a) minimum years of practice required; (b) qualifications or specialisations (if any) required; (c) the process for empanelment, renewal, and removal of a panel advocate; and (d) the grounds and procedure for removal of a panel advocate from the panel, including whether the legal aid beneficiary can lodge a complaint against a panel advocate and the process for doing so.

4. The aggregate statistics maintained by NALSA for the most recently concluded financial year regarding National Lok Adalats and Permanent Lok Adalats: (a) total number of Lok Adalats organised (National and State/District level); (b) total number of cases referred to Lok Adalats; (c) total number of cases settled; (d) total amount of compensation/award passed; (e) category-wise break-up of cases settled (e.g., motor accident, matrimonial, labour, cheque bounce, land acquisition).

5. The data maintained by NALSA relating to legal aid provided to undertrial prisoners under Section 12(e) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 — specifically: (a) total number of undertrial prisoners provided legal aid in the most recently available financial year; (b) state-wise break-up; (c) the scheme or mechanism (if any) operated by NALSA in coordination with prison authorities for identifying undertrial prisoners who are eligible for legal aid but have not yet been assigned a counsel.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment on rtionline.gov.in; Reference No.: [Payment Ref No.]].

I request you to provide the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Postal Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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