Polity and Governance › Judiciary
हिन्दी — Read in HindiLegal aid, mediation and arbitration
Justice outside the courtroom and for those who cannot pay: legal aid, Lok Adalats, mediation and arbitration.
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Free legal aid and a fair trial
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Articles 21 and 39A guarantee an accused a fair trial and free legal aid, and ineffective legal assistance can vitiate a trial.
What changed
21 Jul 2026Briefnewly addedIn Abdul Hameed v. State of Rajasthan, arising from the 1996 Samleti bus blast, the Supreme Court set aside a death sentence because ineffective legal assistance had vitiated the trial. It ordered a fresh trial before a special fast track court within a year, with a senior advocate as defence counsel if the accused cannot afford one. LiveLaw, 21 Jul 2026: Supreme Court sets aside convict's death penalty in 1996 Samleti bus bomb blast case (opens in a new tab)