Govt for law to better legal services
The government has proposed to create a regulatory body for monitoring the legal services in the country in an effort to provide quality legal services and proper grievance redressal mechanism to the common man.
Union law and justice minister Dr M. Veerappa Moily has proposed that the law be based on Legal Services Act 2007 of the United Kingdom, which has successfully established such a mechanism in the UK.
Official sources stated that the minister has directed the law secretary Mr D.R. Meena to prepare a draft act as soon as possible. “The aim is to protect and promote the interests of consumers of legal services, promote competition in the provision of legal services and encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession,” sources added.
Currently, such a monitoring system is absent in our legal system. “The proposed law essentially aims to provide a mechanism of keeping a check on the legal professions and provide a recourse to the consumer who engages the services of a lawyer. It will also aim to stop unethical practices in the legal fraternity,” sources said.
Presently a client only has the option of complaining to the state bar council of Bar Council of India if he is dissatisfied with the services provided by the lawyer he engages.
“The proposed law aims to change this anomaly and provide a set standard of services that need to be offered by the professionals,” sources added.
The law minister’s proposal to base the law on the UK’s Legal Services Act 2007 is understood to have been taken after his recent visit to that country. The minister conducted wide consultations on the topic during the visit and the proposed law is part of the wider agenda of the UPA government’s legal reforms implementation in the country.
The proposed will also aim to improve access to justice, protect and promote the public interest and promote adherence to the professional principles,” sources added.
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