Legal Aid and Access to Justice — Landmark Judgments

Landmark Judgments

Hussainara Khatoon v. Home Secretary, State of Bihar

1979

This landmark case brought to light the deplorable condition of undertrial prisoners in India, many of whom had been languishing in jails for years without trial, often for petty…

M.H. Hoskot v. State of Maharashtra

1978

Preceding Hussainara Khatoon, this case also significantly contributed to the jurisprudence of legal aid. Justice Krishna Iyer, speaking for the Supreme Court, declared that…

Khatri v. State of Bihar

1981

Building upon Hussainara Khatoon, this case further clarified and expanded the scope of free legal aid. The Supreme Court held that the right to free legal aid would not be…

Suk Das v. Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh

1986

This case reiterated and solidified the principles established in previous judgments. The Supreme Court held that if an accused person is not provided with legal aid at the…

Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee v. State of Gujarat

1991

This case dealt with the practical aspects of providing legal aid, particularly in the context of the Supreme Court itself. The Court issued directions for the establishment of a…

S. Nambi Narayanan v. State of Kerala

2018

While not directly on legal aid provision, this case is significant for its emphasis on the right to dignity and compensation for wrongful prosecution, which often involves…