Legal Aid Defence Counsel System To Be Inaugurated Today

The Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS) will be inaugurated in Ernakulam district by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority Chairman and Judge of the Kerala High Court, Justice K. Vinod Chandran, today. 

The LADCS has been established to provide free legal services at any stage in a criminal case, from pre-arrest to appeal, across all districts in the State. It can be availed by women, children, members of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe community, persons with annual income of less than Rs. 3Lakhs, persons with physical or mental disabilities, victims of human trafficking and natural disasters, amongst others.

It has been introduced in Kerala as part of the national scheme extending across 22 States. Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) has engaged the services of 96 lawyers for the purpose. 

The scheme will also be extended to the Taluk level, over time.