Appointing quality lawyers under Legal Aid Scheme All persons in custody are eligible for free legal services including filing of bail petitions provided they are covered under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Legal services are provided not only to the Under Trial Prisoners but also to the victims, if he/she is covered under the Act. However, the conviction or the acquittal in a criminal case doesnt solely depend upon the quality of legal representation by either side. A total number of 653 undertrial prisoners (UTPs) were found to be entitled to the benefit of section 436 A of the Criminal Procedure Code, out of which 194 UTPs have already been released. National Legal Services Authority has framed the National Legal Services Authority (Free and Competent Legal Services) Regulation, 2010 under which it has been provided that no legal practitioner having less than three years experience at the Bar shall ordinarily be empanelled and the competence, integrity, suitability and experience of such lawyers shall be taken into account. Accordingly, the legal services institutions have been empanelling widely experienced lawyers for providing free legal services. This information was given by Minister of Law & Justice, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. ST/rs
