ACTS / RULES / REGULATIONS

THE ANDHRA PRADESH STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITIES RULES, 1995.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 28 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 ( No. 39 of 1987 ), as amended by the Legal Services Authority ( Amendment ) Act, 1994 ( No. 59 of 1994 ), and  in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, the Government of Andhra Pradesh  hereby makes the following rules :-

 RULES

 1.                 Short title and commencement :-

(i)                 These rules may be called the Andhra Pradesh State  Legal Services Authority Rules, 1995.

(ii)                They shall come into force on and from the date of the publication of these rules in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette.

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 2.          Definitions :-            In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires :-

(a)               "Act:" means the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 ( No. 39 of 1987 )

(b)               "Chairman " means the Executive Chairman of the State Authority, or, as the case may be, the Chairman of the High Court  Legal Services Committee, or, as the case may be the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, or, as the case may e, the Chairman of the Mandal Legal Services Committee; 

(c)               "Member" means the member appointed under clause ( c ) Sub-section (2) of Section 6 clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 8-A, clause (b) of sub-section ( 2 ) of sec. 11-A of the Act;

(d)               "Secretary" means the Member-Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority constituted under sub-section ( 3 ) of section 6 of the Act, or, as the case may be, the constituted under sub-section ( 3 ) of Sec. 8-A of the Act, or as the case may, be the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority constituted under sub-section ( 3 0 of Section 9 of the Act; 

(e)               "Mandal Legal Service Committee" means a Mandal Legal Services Committee constituted under Section 11-A of the Act; 

(f)                 All other words and expressions used in these Rules but not defined shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the Act.

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3.          Establishment and  Constitution of the State Authority:

(i)         (a)            The State Authority shall have Chief Justice of the High Court              as  Patron-in-chief;

            (b)               A serving / retired Judge of the High Court as Executive Chairman;

(c)               A District Judge from State Higher Judicial Service as Member-Secretary.

 (ii)        The following shall be Ex-officio Members of the State Authority:

(a)               Advocates General of the State;

(b)               The Principal Secretary in the Department of Finance;

(c)               The Secretary in the Department of Law;

(d)               The Secretary in the Department of Home;

(e)               Chairman, State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission.

(f)                 Two Chairmen of the District Authority, as may be nominated by the State Government, in consultation with  the  Chief Justice of the High Court; 

(iii)              The State Government may nominate, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, other member from amongst those possessing the experience and qualifications  prescribed in sub-rule (iv) or Rule 3. ( The State Authority shall have not more than 15 members including 7 ex-officio Members );

(iv)              A person shall not be qualified for nomination as a member of the State Authority unless he is:-

(a)                an eminent social worker who is engaged in the up liftment of the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, children, rural and urban labor; or

(b)               an eminent person in the field of law; or

(c)                 a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of the Legal Services scheme.

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 4.                  The Power and Functions of the Member Secretary of the State Authority,

Inter Alia, shall be:-

(a)            to give free legal services to the eligible and weaker sections;

(b)               to work out modalities of the legal Services Schemes and Programs approved by the State Authority and ensure their effective monitoring and implementation;

(c)               to exercise the powers in respect of administrative, house-keeping, finance and budget matters as head of the Department in the State Government:

(d)               to manage the properties, records and funds of the State Authority;

(e)               to maintain true and proper accounts of the State Authority including checking and auditing in respect thereof periodically;

(f)                 to prepare annual income and expenditure account and balance sheet of the said Authority;

(g)          to liason with the social action groups and district and  mandal legal services authority

(h)               to maintain up-to-date and complete statistical information including progress made in the implementation of various Legal Services Programmes, from time to time;

(i)               to process proposals for financial assistance and issue utilization certificate  thereof;

(j)               to organise various legal Services Programmes as approved by the State Authority and convene meetings / Seminars and Workshops connected with Legal Services Programmes and preparation of Reports and follow-up action thereon;

(k)               to produce video/documentary films, publicity material, literature and publications to inform general public about the various aspects of the Legal Services Programmes;

(l)                 to lay stress on the resolution of Rural Dispute and to take extra measures to draw schemes for effective and meaningful legal services to draw schemes for effective and meaningful legal services for setting rural dispute at the doorsteps of the rural people;

(m)               to perform such of the functions as are assigned to him under the Schemes formulated under clause (b) of section 4 of the Act; and

(n)               to perform such other functions as may be expedient for efficient functioning of the State Authority.

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5.                  The terms of Office and other conditions relating thereto, of Members and

Member Secretary of the State Authority under sub-section (4) of Section 6:-

(a)               (I) The members  of the State authority nominated under sub rule  (iii) of rule 3 by the State Government shall continue for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-nomination.

(b)               A member of the State Authority nominated under sub-rule (iii) of rule 3 may be removed by the State Government if in the opinion of the State Government, he is not desirable to continue as a member.

(c)               If any member nominated under sub-rule ( iii) of rule 3 ceases to be a member of the State Authority for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled up in the same manner as the original nomination and the person so nominated shall continue to be a member for the remaining term of the member in whose place  he is nominated.

(d)               All members nominated under sub-rule (iii) of rule 3 daily allowance in respect of journeys performed in connection with the work of the State Authority and shall be paid by the State Authority in accordance with the rules as area applicable to be Grade 'A' Officers, as amended from time to time.

(e)               If the nominated member is a government employees, he shall be entitled to only one set of travelling allowance and daily allowance either from his parent department, or, as the case may be,  from the Sate Authority.

(f)                 The member Secretary of the State Authority shall be she whole time employee and shall hold office for a term of not exceeding five years.

(g)               In all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowance, benefits and entitlements; and disciplinary matters; the Member Secretary shall be governed by the State Government rules and he shall be on deputation to the State Authority.

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6.            The number of Officers and other employees of the State Authority under

sub-section (5) of Section 6:-

The State Authority shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial assistance and for its day-do-day functions as are set out in Schedule to these rules or as may be notified by the State Government from time to time.

7.         The conditions of service and the Salary and Allowances of Officers and other  Employees of the State Authority under sub-section (6) of Section 6 :-

  (i)         The officers and other employees of the State Authority shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances in the scale of pay indicated against each post in the Schedule to these rules or at par with the State Government employees holding equivalent posts;]

(ii)                In all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowances, benefits and entitlements and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the State authority shall be governed by the State Government rules as are applicable to persons holding  equivalent posts.

(iii)              The officers and other employees of the State Authority shall be entitled to such other facilities, allowances and benefits as may be notified by the State Government, from time to time.

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8.        The experience and qualifications of Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee under sub-section (3) of Section 8-A:- 

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee unless he is an officer of  the High Court not below the rank  of Joint Registrar. 

9       The number of officers and other  employees of the High Court Legal services Committee under sub-section (5) of Section 8-A and the conditions of service and the salary and allowances payable to them under sub-section (6) of that  section:- 

(i)                 The High Court Legal Services Committee shall have such number of Offices and other employees for rendering secretarial assistance and for its day-to-day  functions as are set out in Schedule to these rules or as may be notified by the State Government from time to time.  

(ii)       In all matters like age of retirement,pay and allowences, benifits and entitlements and disciplinary matters,the officers and other employees of the High Court Legal Services Committee shall be entitled  to such other facilities, allowances and benefits as  may be notified by the State Government from time to time.

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10.        The Number, Experience and qualifications of Members of the District   

Authority  under clause (b) of Sub-section (2) of section 9:-

(i)                 The District Authority shall bot have more than EIGHT members.

(ii)                The following shall be ex-officio members of the Destrict Authrity.:-

          (a)               District Magistrate;

          (b)               Superintendent of Police;

           (c)               Chief Juddicial magistrate; and

           (d)               District Government Pleader;

iii)              The State Government may nominate, in consultation with Chief Justice of the High Court, other members from amongst those possessing the qualifications and experience prescribed in sub-rule (iv) of this Rule.

(iv)              A person shall not be qualified for nomination as a member of the District Authority, unless he is;

      (a)               and eminent Social Worker who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker  sections of  the people, including Scheduled Castes,  Scheduled Tribes, Women, Children  and Rural Labour;

      (b)               an eminent person in the field of law;or

       (c)               a person of repute who is specially interested  in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes.

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  11.      The number of Officers and other Employees of the District Authority under   sub-section (5) of Sections 9;-

              The District Authority shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial assistance and for its day-today functions as are set out in Schedule to these rules or as may be notified by the State Government  from time to time.

12.        The conditions of Services and the Salary and the Allowances of the Officers and  other employees of the District Authority under sub-section (6) 9:-

  (i)       The officers and other employees of the District  Authority shall be

entitled  to draw pay and allowances in the scale of pay indicated against each post in the Schedule to these rules or at par with the State Government employees holding equivalent posts.

(ii)                in all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowances, benefits and entitlement and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the District Authority shall be governed  by the State Government  rules as are applicable to persons holding  equivalent posts.

  13.        The number, Experience and qualifications of Members of the Mandal Legal Services committee under clause (b) of Sub-section (2) of Section 11-A:-           

(i)         The Mandal Legal Services Committee shall have not more than five members.

(ii)                The following shall be ex-officio members of the Mandal Legal Services Committee:-

(iii)              Sub-Divisional Officer;

(iv)              Sub-Divisional Police Officer;

(v)               The  State Government may nominate, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, other members from amongst those possessing the qualifications and experience prescribed in sub-rule (iv) of this Rule.

(vi)              A persons shall not be qualified for nomination as a member of the Mandal Legal Services Committee unless he is:-

     (a)               an eminent Social Worker who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Casts, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Children and Rural Labour; or

     (b)               an eminent person in the field of law ; or

     (c)               a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of the legal Service Scheme.

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14.  The number of Officers and other Employees of the Mandal Legal Services Committee under Sub-section ( 3 ) of Section 11-A:- 

The Mandal legal Services Committee shall have such number of officers and other employees for rending secretarial assistance and for its day-to-day functions as are set out in Schedule to these rules or as may be notified by the State Government from time to time. 

15.  The Conditions of service and the Salary and Allowances of Officers and other Employees of the Mandal Legal Services Committee under Sub-section (4) of Section 11-A:- 

(i)            In all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowances, benefits and entitlements and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the mandal legal Services Committee shall be governed by the State Government rules as are applicable  to persons holding equivalent posts.

(ii)                The Officers and other employees of the Mandal Legal Services Committee shall be entitled to such other  facilities, allowances and benefits as may be notified by the State Government. 

16.  The Upper limit of Annual income of a person entitiling him to Legal Services  under Clause (h) of Section 12, if the case is before a Court,other than the Supreme Court:-

 Any Citizen of India whose income from all sources does not exceed { Rs. 50,000/- ( Rupees Fifty Thousand only) } or such higher amount as may be notified by the State Government from time to time, be entitled to legal services under clause (h) of Section 12 of the Act.  

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17.       The experience and qualifications of other persons of the Lok Adalats other  than referred to in Sub-section (4) of Sec..19A:-

A Person shall not be qualified to be included in the Bench of Lok Adalat unless he is:-

(a)    an eminent social worker who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker  sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women , children, Rural And Urban Labour;or

(b)   a lawyer of standing ; or

(c)    a person of repute who is specially interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Scheme and Programming.

18.  Execution of a wards passed by the Lok Adalats  in respect of pending cases and prelitigation cases:- 

The awards passed by the Lok Adalats in respect of pending cases  shall be executable by the  courts in which those matters were pending prior to the passing by the Lok Adalats.

  Provided that the awards passed by the Lok Adalats in respect of the matters at prelitigative stage shall be executable through the Court of District Judges of the District in Which the Lok Adalats is held.

(i)             Necessary certificate for refund of  Court  Fee will be issued by the Court which referred the case to the Lok Adalat  to the person who is entitled for which refund of Court Fee.

(ii)                On production of such certificate, the District Collector or the competent Revenue Authority shall refund the amount of Court Fee in the manner provided in the Andhra Pradesh Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act., 1956".

THE ANDHRA PRADESH STATE LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORITY REGULATIONS, 1996 

            In exercise of the powers conferred  under the provisions of Section  29A of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and in Consultation with the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh wherever necessary, the State Legal Services Authority hereby makes the following Regulations:-

Chapter - VIII

                  Receiving of the Applications for Legal Service :-  A person seeking legal services by the High  Court Legal Services Committee,  District Authority or the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall send an application under affidavit containing the brief facts of the case, and where the applicant is a person as stipulated  in Section 12(h) of the Act, not being one covered under any other of that Section, the affidavit shall also state the details of the properties possessed by him and his annual income from all sources.

               Scrutiny of Applications :- The applications shall be scrutinized and disposed of by the Secretaries of the High Court Committee, District Authority and by the Chairman of the Taluk committee, as the case may be, giving such directions as to allowing of such legal services as are thought necessary;

Provided that all orders passed by the Secretaries of the High Court Committee or of the District Authority rejecting legal  services shall be passed after obtaining order  of the respective Chairman;

            Provided further that all orders of grant of legal services by the Secretary  of the High Court Committee or the District Authority Shall prepare ¹[Two] panels of Advocates, for  entrustment of the case for rendering legal services, as follows;  

(1)   Advocates who volunteer to render legal services gratuitously

(2)   1[ Advocates who are willing to work on payment of honorarium / on payment of the amount of fee as prescribed is the schedule or such other fee as may be fixed by the executive Chairman of the State Authority or the Chairman of the District Authority or the Taluk Committee as the case, the matters other than those specified in the schedule].  

Provided that the advocate members of the State Authority, High Court Committee, District Authority or the Taluk Committee may always volunteer to render legal services gratuitously;

  Provided further that in choosing the panels care shall be taken to empanel Advocates of repute who are specially interested in implementation  of legal services scheme.  

.              Part Payment of Fees to Advocates :- In suitable cases Advocates may be paid one third of the fees at the commencement of the case or at intermediate stage.

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              Duty Counsel :- The High Court Committee, the District Authority and the Taluk committee shall identify retired Judicial Officers or advocates  of High reputation to act as Duty Counsel, whose duties and functions are to be specified by the Executive Chairman of the State Authority.

              Duty of Legal Practioner :to take further Action, after the decision of a case by the Court:-  The legal practioner conducting a case on behalf of a  person receiving the services shall, as soon as the case is decided, apply for a copy of judgment  and decree if  any and immediately on receipt of the copies shall submit them to the body appointing him together with his detailed comments. The Taluk Committee, the District Authority or the High Court Committee, as the case may be, shall take steps to recover the expenses of the services rendered from out of the costs if any, awarded by the court to the person concerned and received by him. Such bodies may also consider, where necessary, the feasibility of filing an appeal, revision or a Writ Petition if-

1.                  the case has been decided against the person;

2.                  the case is prima facie fit taking to such remedies;

3.                  the aided person has applied for legal services for taking recourse to such remedies; provided that it will not be necessary to make a fresh enquiry as to eligibility under Section 12(h) of the Act , wherever applicable, unless the Taluk Committee, the District Authority or the High Court Committee, as the case may be, is of the opinion that a change of the circumstances has taken place since the grant of the legal services;

                Modes of Legal Services and Advice:-The Legal  Services admissible under these Regulations shall be in all or any of the following modes, namely:-  

1.                  Legal advice by a legal practitioner on the list of legal practitioners maintained by  the Taluk Committee, the District Authority and the High Court Committee, or of any voluntary organization sponsored and encouraged by the State Authority.

2.                  Legal Services in the form of  

(I)              Representation  of an entitled person by a legal practitioner on the list in the legal proceedings;  

(II)              Payment to the entitled person or on his behalf-  

a.                  of court fee;  

b.                  of process fee and expenses of witnesses;

c.                  of charges for preparation of paper books, including charges for Printing and translation of documents;

d.                  of charges for the supply of certified copies of judgement, decrees, orders and other documents;

e.                  of any amount on any other account in any legal proceedings;  

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              Bar on charging remuneration by the Legal Practitioners from persons to whom Legal Services are rendered :- 

No. legal practitioner who is rendering legal services under these Regulations shall charge any remuneration in any form whatsoever from any person to whom legal services are rendered.    

            Agreement:- The Taluk committee, the District Authority or the High Court  committee, as the case may be, giving legal services, obtain from such person an agreement containing such general conditions as the Taluk Committee, or the District Authority, or the High Court Committee, as the case may be, may consider fit to impose having regard to the special facts and circumstances of the case. 

            Provided that the agreement shall invariably contain the following condition, namely:- In consideration of the legal services received, the applicant hereby agrees to repay the same to the Taluk Committee / the District Authority / the High Court Committee, in the event  of his ultimate success in the legal proceedings for which he was given the services, on realization of assets or costs either in the legal proceedings or in other connected legal proceedings yielding income more than the amount of service allowed.

   Limits of Pecuniary Aid:-    The High Court Committee, District Authority and the Taluk committee may sanction monetary aid to the applicants as fees of advocates, to the extent as provided for in the schedule of the Regulations.

  With the previous sanction of the State Authority an  Advocate may be engaged to conduct batch cases or similar class of cases at fixed consolidated fees per day or month. 

The amounts sanctioned by the High Court Committee shall be aid by the State Authority from the State Legal Aid Fund. The amounts sanctioned  by the Taluk committee shall be paid by the District Authority from the District Legal Aid  Fund.

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CHAPTER - IX

LOK ADALATS

          Procedure for organising Lok Adalats :- (1) The Secretary of the High Court Cmmittee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall convene and organise Lok Adalats at regular intervals;

Provided that the Secretary of the High Court  Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall convene a Lok Adalat as soon as about 30 cases referred to it under Section 20 of the Act or otherwise are available for being taken up.

(1)   The Secretary of the High Court committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee as the case may be may associate the members of the legal profession, college students, social organisatins, charitable and philanthropic institutions and other similar organisations with the Lok Adalts.

                intimation to the State Authority :-

1.                  The Secretary of the High  Court Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall inform the State Authority about the proposal to organise the Lok  Adalat well before the date on which the Lok Adalat is proposed to be organised and furnish the following information to the State Authority :-

a.                  the place and the date on which the Lok Adalat is proposed to be organised;

b.                  whether some of the organizations referred to in Regulations 29 (2) have agreed to associate themselves with the Lok Adalat;

c.                  categories and nature of case, viz. Pending cases or prelitigation disputes or both proposed to be placed before the Lok Adalat;

d.                  number of cases proposed to be brought before the Lok Adalat;

e.                  any other information relevant to the convening and organizing  of the Lok Adalat.  

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                Notice to the Parties Concerned :- The Secretary of the High Court committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, convening and organizing Lok Adalat shall inform every litigant whose case is referred to the Lok Adalat, well in time so as to afford him an opportunity to prepare himself for the Lok Adalat.

              Composition of the Lok Adalat :-  

(a)    .     At the High Court Level The secretary of  the High Court Committee organising

the Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalats, each Bench comprising two or three of the following:- 

1.                  a sitting or retired judge of the High Court.

2.                  A senior member of the Legal Profession ; and

3.                  A ( local ) social worker of repute who is engaged in the uplitment of the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Casts, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Children, Rural and Ubran Labour and interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes.  

(b)   At District Level : -  The Secretary  of the District Authority organising  the Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalats, each Bench comprising two or three of the following :-

1.                  a sitting or retired Judicial Officer;

2.                  a senior member of the Local Bar;

4.                  a ( Local ) social worker of repute who is engaged in the uplitment of the weaker sections of the people, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women, Children, Rural and Ubran Labour and interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes.  

(c)    At Taluk Level :-  The Chairman  of the Taluk committee organizing the Lok Adalat shall constitute Benches of the Lok Adalat, each Bench comprising two or three of the following:-  

1.                  a sitting or retired Judicial Officer;

2.                  a senior member of the local Bar; and  

3.         A social worker  of repute who is engaged in the up liftment of the weaker sections of the people including schedule casts ,schedule tribes ,women and children, rural and urban labor  and interested in the implementation of the  legal services  schemes and the programs

4.                  The Chairman of the High Court Committee, the District Authority and the Taluk Committee may directly supervise the Lok  Adalat organised by the  respective bodies.

  .              Solemnity in conducting Lok Adalat :- Every Lok Adalat shall be conducted with the solemnity attached to a court and avoiding any ostentatious show.  

.              Expenditure for the Lok Adalat:-  The expenditure incurred for organising a Lok Adalat shall not exceed 1[Rs. 1000/- ( Rupees One Thousand only ) ] including expenditure incurred for publicity etc.,

Necessary help from publicity media like press, Radio and television can be taken in giving publicity  of the proposed Lok Adalat.  

Non political and voluntary services institutions may    partake in organising Lok Adalat by arranging free distribution of food packets to the public gathered at  the Lok Adalat. 

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              Summoning of Records and the Responsibility for its Safe custody:- 

1.                  The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District  Authority or the Chaiman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, may call for the judicial records of those pending cases which are referred to that Lok Adalat under Serction 20 of the Act from the Concerned Courts.

2.                  If any case is referred to the Lok Adalat at the Pre-litigation stage, the version of each party shall be  obtained by he Secretary of the High Court Committee, or the District  Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, to be placed before the Lok Adalat

3.                  The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be shall be responsible for the safe custody of the records from the time he receives them from the Court till they are returned.

4.                  Every judicial authority is expected to cooperate in transmission of the Court records.

5.                  The judicial records shall be returned within ten days of the Lok Adalat irrespective of whether or not the case is settled by the Lok Adalat with an endorsements about the result of the proceedings.

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          Functioning of the Lok Adalat:-  

1.                  The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority  or the Chairman of the Taluk committee, as the case may be, shall assign specific cases to each Bench of the Lok Adalt.

2.                  The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, prepare a ' cause list' for each Bench of the Lok Adalat and intimate  the same to all concerned  at least  two days before  the date of the Lok Aalat.

3.                  Every Bench of the Lok Adalat shall make sincere efforts to bring about a conciliatory settlement in every case put before it without bringing about any kind of coercion, threat or undue influence, allurement or mis-representation.

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           Holding of Lok Adalat :- 

(a)  A Lok Adalat may be organized at such time and place and on such days preferably on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays and Holidays as the State authority, high Court Committee, District Authority, Taluk Committee, as the case may be, organizing the Lok Adalat deems appropriate.

(b)               The Lok Adalat shall be held at a public place.

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     procedure for Effecting Compromise or Settlement at Lok Adalat :- 

(1)   Every Award of the Lok Adalt shall be signed bu the panel constituting the Lok Adalat.

(2)   The original Award shall form part of the judicial records and a copy of the Award shall be given  to each of the parties 1 [ duly certifying them to be true by the Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee or the District Legal Services Authority or the Chairman of Mandal Legal Services Committees, as the case may be are authoised to sign the true copies of the Award].

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              Award to be Categorical and Lucid :-

  (1)               Every Award of the Lok Adalat shall be categorical and lucid and shall be written in the language used in the local courts. The Award may be drawn up in English or in the Regional languages.

(2)               The parties to the dispute shall be required to affix their signatures or, as the case may be, thumb impression on the Award of the Lok Adalat.

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            Compilation of Results :- 

            At the conclusion of the session of the Lok Adalat the Secretary  of the High Court Committee or the District shall compile the results for submission to the State Authority.

              Maintenance of Panel of Lok Adalat Judges :

             The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk committee, as the case may be, shall maintain a panel of retired Judges, Advocates, Social Workers etc., possessing qualification and experience prescribed under Sec. 28(o) of the Act, who may work in Lok Adalats.

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      Remuneration to the Judge and Members of the Lok Adalat :-

  (1).       The Judge of the Lok Adalat Bench if he is a retired Judicial officer members shall be provided with conveyance or their residence and the place of Lok Adalat.

(2)   (I)                Presiding Officer of the Lok Adalats held at District and Taluk Levels, who is not a serving judicial officer shall be entitled to honorarium / ¹ remuneration of Rs. 200 Per day ]

(II)              The other members of the Lok Adalats held at District and Taluk levels shall be entitled to honorarium/ remuneration of ¹Rs. 125 per day]

(III)           The Presiding Officer  of the Lok Adalts held at High Court level who is not a sitting Judge shall also be entitled to honorarium/remuneration ¹Rs.300 per day.]

(IV)           The other members of the Lok Adalat held at High Court level shall be entitled to honorarium / remuneration ¹ Rs. 300/- per day]

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            Procedure for maintaining record of cases referred under Section 20 of the Act or other wise :- (1)      

      The Secretary of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the  Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall maintain a Register wherein all the cases received by him by way of reference to the Lok Adalat shall be entered giving particulars of the .  

i.                     date of the receipt

ii.                   nature of the case

iii.                  such other particulars as may be deemed necessary ; and

iv.                 date of settlement and return of the case file.

  (II)              When the case is finally disposed of by the Lok Adalat an appropriate entry will be made in the Register. Expenditure for holding Level Literacy Camp:- The expenditure for holding a Legal literacy Camp shall not exceed Rs. 2,000/- (Rupees two thousand only ) by the State  Authority  district Authority and the Mandal Committee, as the case may be.

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        Budget :-     

1.                  The High Court Committee and the District Authority  shall submit the budget proposals to the State Authority on  financial year basis in respect of the Lok Adalat Scheme.

2.                  The expenditure for Lok Adalat Scheme shall constitute 'Nonplan' expenditure and may be met out of the grants received by the High Court Committee and the District Authority and the Taluk Committee as the case may be.

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      Maintenance of Accounts :-  

  The Chairman of the High Court Committee or the District Authority or the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall exercise complete and full control over the expenditure to be incurred on the Lok Adalats.

1.                  The Secretary  of the High Court Committee or the District Authority ,as the case may be, shall  render true and proper accounts the State Authority every quarter.

2.                  The Chairman of the Taluk committee shall render true and proper accounts to the District Authority every month.

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Funding :- 

On a request received from the High Court committee or the District Authority or the Taluk Committee as the case may be, the State authority may release special grants for convening and holding of Lok Adalats, If considered necessary.

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  Miscellaneous:  

1.                  The appearance of lawyers on behalf of the parities at the Lok Adalat shall not be refused.

2.                  No fee shall be payable  by the parties in respect of matters on cases brought before or referred to al Lok Adalat.

3.                  The Secretary of The High Court Committee or the District Authority or the Chairman of the Taluk Committee, as the case may be, shall provide all assistance as may be necessary to the Lok Adalats.

4.                  Every Bench of the Lok Adalat may evolve its own procedure for conducting the proceedings  before it and shall not be bound by either the Civil Procedure Code or the Evidence Act or the Code of Criminal Procedure Subject, however, to the Principles of natural jus

 Permanent Advance:  

1.           The State Authority may permit the District Legal Services Authority to keep Rs.5000/-  as Permanent Advance for meeting the permissible expenditure with a provision to   recoup the same from the District Legal Aid Fund.

2.          The State Authority may also permit the Mandal Legal Services Committees to keep Rs.2500/- as Permanent Advance for meeting the permissible expenditure with a provision to recoup the same from the District Legal Aid Fund.

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The A.P. State Legal Service Authority Regulations ;

Schedule 1

(Vide Regulation No. 28. )

  AMENDMENTS

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