The Supreme Court has mandated that the addresses and phone numbers of individuals offering free legal aid to the poor and underprivileged must be prominently displayed at police stations, post offices, railway stations, and bus stands throughout the country.

This directive is issued under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and in accordance with Article 39A of the Constitution, which pertains to the provision of free legal aid.

A bench consisting of Justice B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan issued the order while considering a petition submitted by social activist Suhas Chakma. The petition seeks appropriate directives to the Centre, states, and Union Territories to prevent the torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of prisoners, particularly in the context of overcrowded and unsanitary jail conditions. Additionally, the petition emphasizes the right to humane treatment and the inherent dignity of all individuals deprived of their liberty.

Some of the directives passed by Justice Viswanathan, who authoredthe judgment:

• In public places like police stations, post offices, bus stands, railway stations, etc, boards in prominent places to be displayed furnishing the address for contact and the phone numbers of the nearest legal aid office. This should be done in the local language and in English

• Promotional campaigns in the local language be undertaken through radio/All India Radio/Doordarshan. This will be in addition to the promotional measures undertaken through the digitisation process likehosting of websites and prominent mention thereon on the landing page of the legal services authoritywherever permissible

• Periodic interaction should be held with lawyers visiting jails and para-legal volunteers so that the system functionsefficiently as a whole

• Regular reorientation classes for lawyers involved in prelitigation assistance by legal services authorities. It should also be ensured that adequate law books and access to onlinelibraries are available to lawyers engaged at the pre-litigation assistance stage and those involved with the legal defence counsel set-up

• The Union of India and the states shall continue to extend their cooperation and assistance to the legal services authorities at different levels for effective implementation of the measures takenby them.