Punjab State Legal Services Authorities Rules, 1996

[As amended by The Punjab State Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Rules, 2013]
(As Amended Up To Date)

RULES

1. Short title and commencement.–

(1) These rules may be called the Punjab State Legal Services Authorities Rules, 1996.

(2) They shall come into force on and with effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions:–

( 1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires–

(a) “Act” means the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987;

(b) “aided person” means a person to whom legal services is provided in accordance with the provisions of these rules;

(c)& (d) “Omitted”

(e) “eligible person” means a person, who is eligible for legal services under these rules;

(f) “High Court” means the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh;

(g) “legal practitioner” shall have the same meaning as assigned to this expression in the Advocates Act, 1961;

(h) “legal proceedings” means civil, criminal, revenue or any other proceedings arising under any law for the time being in force from its inception to final disposal in a court of law and includes preparatory steps for institution of such proceedings and also includes quasi-judicial and administrative proceedings before any tribunal or authority established under any law;

(i) “member” means the member of the State Authority, District Authority or Sub-divisional Legal Service Committee, as the case may be;

(ia) “Member Secretary” means the Member Secretary of the State Legal Services Authority , who is appointed as such in terms of the provisions of sub-section 3 of section 6 of the Act.

(j) “State Government” means the Government of the State of Punjab in the Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs; and

(k) “Sub-Divisional Committee” means a Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee constituted under section 11-A of the Act.

(2) All other words and expressions used in these rules, but not defined shall have the meaning as assigned to them in the Act.

3. The number, experience and qualifications of other members of the State Authority.–

Besides, the Chief Justice of the High Court as its Patron-in-Chief and a serving or retired judge of the High Court nominated by the Government of Punjab in consultation with the Chief Justice of High Court as its Executive Chairman, the State Authority shall consist of the following members, namely;–

(A) Ex-officio members.–

(i) Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee;
(ii) Advocate General, Punjab;
(iii) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Home Affairs and Justice;
(iv) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Finance;
(v) Financial Commissioner and Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat;
(vi) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Higher Education;
(vii) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children;
(viii) Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Labour;
(ix) Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of School Education;
(x) Legal Remembrancer and Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs;
(xi) Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Information and Public Relations;
(xii) Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes;
(xiii) Director General of Police, Punjab;
(xiv) Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab;
(xv) Chairperson, Punjab State Women Commission;
(xvi) Chairman, Punjab and Haryana Bar Council;
(xvii) President, Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association; and
(xviii) Member Secretary, Punjab Legal Services Authority.”

¹² Vide Notification No. G.S.R. 26/C.A.39/1987/S.28/Amd.(6)/2013, dated 16th April, 2013, issued by the Govt. of Punjab, Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs.

(B) The following other members to be nominated by the State Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of High Court (hereinafter referred to as the nominated members namely:-

(i) two Chairmen of the District Authorities;
(ii) five eminent Social Workers (of which at least three shall be women) who are engaged in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society including Scheduled Castes Women, Children and rural and urban labour; and
(iii) one member out of the following persons, by rotation in the order given below, namely:–

(a) Head of the Law Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh;
(b) Head of the Law Department, Punjabi University, Patiala; and
(c) Head of the Law Department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

4. Headquarters of the State Authority.–

The office of the State Authority shall be located at Chandigarh.

5. Special provisions for Patron-in-Chief, the Executive Chairman and Chairman, High Court Legal Service Committee.–

The Patron-in-Chief, the Executive Chairman and the Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, being a sitting Judge of the High Court, shall be entitled to payment of traveling allowance and daily allowance in respect of journeys performed in connection with the work of the State Authority and be paid by the State Authority in accordance with the provisions of the High Court Judges (Travelling Allowance) Rules, 1959 as amended from time to time.

6. Conditions of Service of Executive Chairman in case of retired Judge.–

Where the Executive Chairman is a retired Judge of the High Court, his terms and conditions of service shall be such as are specified in Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M. No.19048-E.N, dated the 8th October, 1987 or such other relevant order of the State Government, as may be applicable to the retired Judges of the High Court appointed to Commissions or Committees.

7. Member Secretary.–

The Member-Secretary of the State Authority constituted under these rules shall exercise the following powers and shall perform the following duties, namely:–

(a) to give free legal services to the eligible persons and weaker sections of the society;
(b) to work out modalities of the Legal Services Schemes and Programmes approved by the State Authority and ensure their effective monitoring and implementation;
(c) to exercise the powers as Head of the Department of Punjab Legal services Authority in respect of Administrative House Keeping, Finance and Budget matters;
(d) to maintain true and proper accounts of the State Authority including periodical checking and auditing in respect thereof;
(e) to manage the properties, records, and funds of the State Authority;
(f) to prepare Annual Income and Expenditure Account Balance- Sheet of the State Authority;
(g) to liaise with the Social Action Groups, District Authorities and Sub Divisional Committees;
(h) to maintain up-to-date and complete statistical information including progress made in the implementation of various Legal Services programmes from time to time;
(i) to process proposals for financial assistance and issue utilization Certificate thereof;
(j) to organize various legal services programmes as approved by the State Authority and convene meetings or seminars and workshops connected with the Legal Services programmes and preparation of Reports and follow -up action thereof;
(k) to produce video or documentary films, publicity material, literature and publications to inform general public about the various aspects of the legal services programmes;
(l) to lay stress on the resolution of rural disputes and to take extra measures to draw schemes for effective and meaningful legal services for settling rural disputes at the door-steps of the rural people including organization of Mediation Centres in the rural as well as urban areas;
(m) to perform such other functions as are necessary to give effect to the policy and directions of the Central Authority; and
(n) to perform such other duties as may be expedient for functioning of the State Authority or as may be assigned to him by the Executive Chairman.

8. The term of office and other conditions of Members and Member-Secretary of the State Authority.–

(1) The term of office of the members nominated under clause (B) of rule 3 of the State Authority shall be two years and they shall be eligible for renomination.

(2) A member of the State Authority nominated under clause (B) of rule 3 may be removed by the State Government if,–

(a) he fails, without sufficient cause, to attend three consecutive meetings of the State Authority or five meetings held within the span of two years ; or
(b) has been adjudged as insolvent ; or
(c) has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government involves moral turpitude ; or
(d) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member ; or
(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in the State Authority pre-judicial to the public interest.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (2), no member shall be removed from the State Authority on the grounds specified therein unless a reference in this behalf is received by the State Government from the Executive Chairman after holding such an enquiry as he deems fit.

(4) A member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Executive Chairman, resign from the State Authority and such resignation, shall take effect on the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date of tendering resignation.

(5) If any nominated member ceases to be member of the State Authority for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled up in the manner and from the source from which the same was originally filled under clause (B) of rule 3 and a person so nominated to fill a casual vacancy shall continue to be a member for remainder of his predecessor 5 terms.

(6) All nominated members shall be entitled to payment of travelling allowance and daily allowance in respect of journeys performed in connection with the meetings of the State Authority and shall be paid by the State Authority in accordance with the rules as are applicable to the Class I officers of the Punjab Government as amended from time to time.

(7) The ex-officio member shall be entitled to travelling allowance and daily allowance either from his parent department, or as the case may be, from the State Authority.

(8) The Member Secretary of the State Authority shall be whole time employee of the State Government.

(9) In all matters like age of retirement, pay and allowances, benefits and entitlements, plus disciplinary matters, the Member-Secretary shall be governed by the rules as are applicable to the members of the Punjab Superior Judicial Service.

9. The number of officers and other employees of the State Authority.–

The State Authority shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretariat and field assistance and its day to day functions as may be sanctioned by the State Government from time to time.

10. The conditions of service and the salary and allowances of officers and other employees of the State Authority.–

(1) The officers and other employees of the State Authority shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances in the scales of pay admissible to Punjab Government employees holding equivalent posts and shall also be entitled to same status, privileges and facilities.

(2) In all other matters like age of retirement and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the State Authority shall be governed by the Punjab Government Rules as are applicable to the employees holding equivalent posts.

11. The experience and qualifications of Secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee.–

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as Secretary of

the High Court Legal Services Committee unless he is a member of the Punjab Superior Judicial Service of Haryana Superior Judicial Service : Provided that if no suitable person is available from amongst the members of the Punjab Superior Judicial Service, an officer of the High Court not below the rank of a Joint Registrar shall be eligible for appointment as Secretary of the aforesaid committee.

12. The number of officers and other employees of the High Court Legal Services Committees and the conditions of Service and Salary and allowance payable to them.–

(1) The High Court Legal Service Committee shall be provided with such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial assistance and for its day to day functions as may be sanctioned by the State Government from time to time.

(2) The officers and other employees of the High Court Legal Service Committee shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances and other benefits in the scale of pay at par with the Punjab Government employees/as the case may be, holding equivalent posts and shall also be entitled to the same status, privileges and facilities.

(3) In all other matters like age of retirement and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the High Court Legal Services Committee shall be governed by the service rules of the Punjab Government and if belonging to the establishment of the High Court, then the rules of the High Court.

13. The number, experience and qualifications of members of the District Authority.–

The District Authority shall consist of the following members, namely :–

(A) Ex-officio members,–

(i) District and Sessions Judge	Chairman
(ii) Deputy Commissioner	Member
(iii) Additional District and Session Judge-I	Member
(iv) Commissioner of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police, as the case may be¹³	Member
(v) Chief Judicial Magistrate	Member
(vi) District Attorney	Member
(vii) District Public Relations Officer	Member
(viii) President District Bar Association	Member
(ix) Assistant District Attorney dealing with Legal Aid Programmes at District Headquarters	Member

(B) Nominated Members.–

Three members from amongst eminent social workers (of which at least one shall be woman) who are engaged in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society including Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes to be nominated by the Sate Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

¹³ Vide Notification No G.S.R.26/C.A.39/1987/S.28/Amd.(6)/2013, dated 16.04.2013, issued by the Govt. of Punjab, Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs.

14. The number of officers and other employees of the District Authority.–

The District Authority shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial and field assistance in its day to day functions as may be sanctioned by the State Government from time to time.

15. The conditions of service and the salary and allowances of the officers and other employees of the District Authority.–

(1) The officers and other employees of the District Authority shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances in the scales of pay admissible to Punjab Government employees holding equivalent posts and shall also be entitled to same status, privileges and facilities.

(2) In all other matters, like age of retirement and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the District Authority shall be governed by the Punjab Government rules as are applicable to persons holding equivalent posts.

16. The number, experience and qualifications of members of the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee.–

(1) The Sub-Divisional Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :–

(A) Ex-officio members.–

(i) Senior Civil Judge	Chairman
(ii) Sub-Divisional Officer	Member
(iii) Deputy Superintendent of Police (Civil)	Member
(iv) Tehsildar	Member
(v) All Block Development and Panchayat Officers posted in the Sub-Division	Member
(vi) Assistant Public Relations Officers	Member
(vii) President, Bar Association	Member
(viii) Tehsil Welfare Officer	Member
(ix) Assistant District Attorney dealing with Legal Aid Programmes	Member

(B) Nominated Members.–

(2) Three members from amongst eminent social workers (of which at least one should be woman) interested in the upliftment of the weaker sections of the society including Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Women, children and rural labour, to be nominated by the State Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

(3) The Assistant District Attorney dealing with legal service programme in the sub-division shall act as member-Secretary of the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee.

17. The number of officers and other employees of the Sub-Divisional Committee.–

The Sub-Divisional Committee shall have such number of officers and other employees for rendering secretarial and field assistance and for its day-to-day functions as may be sanctioned by the State Government from time to time.

18. The conditions of service and the salary and allowances of officers and other employees of the Sub-Divisional Committee.–

(1) The officers and other employees of the Sub-Divisional Committee shall be entitled to draw pay and allowances in the scales of pay admissible to Punjab Government Employees holding equivalent posts and shall also be entitled to same status, privileges and facilities.

(2) In all other matters like age of retirement and disciplinary matters, the officers and other employees of the Sub-Divisional Committee shall be governed by the Punjab Government rules as are applicable to persons holding equivalent posts.

19. The upper limit of annual income of a person entitling him to legal services if the case is before a court other than the Supreme Court.–

(1) In addition to the persons mentioned in clauses (a) to (g) of section 12 of the Act, a citizen of India whose annual income from all sources does not exceed one lac and fifty thousand rupees14 shall be entitled to legal services, if the case is before a Court other than the Supreme Court.

(2) In cases where the High Court or the Supreme Court provides legal service under any order, legal service should be deemed to have been provided by an Authority of a Committee in relaxation of all the conditions laid down in these rules.

20. Matters on which legal service is admissible.–

In addition to the cases covered under sections 12 and 13 of Act, legal service may also be provided in all matters where such service shall be aimed at –

(a) amicable settlement of the dispute by bringing about conciliation between the parties to the disputes ; and

(b) rendering assistance in complying with various legal requirements in order to secure the benefits under various schemes sponsored by or on behalf of the Central Government or the Government of Punjab or any other public authority or for the Welfare of the general public or any section thereof.

21. Modes of providing legal service.–Legal service may be given in all or any one or more of the following modes, namely :–

(a) by payment of court fee, process fee, expenses of witnesses, preparation of the paper book, lawyers fee and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal proceedings ;

(b) through representation by a legal practitioner in legal proceedings ;

(d) by preparation of appeal paper book, including printing, typing and translation of documents in legal proceedings ;

(e) by drafting of legal documents ;

¹⁴ Vide Notification No G.S.R.26/C.A.39/1987/S.28/Amd.(6)/2013, dated 16.04.2013, issued by the Govt. of Punjab, Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs.

(f) by giving legal advice on any legal matter ; and

(g) through Mediation Centers of Family Counseling Centers.

22. Procedure for providing free legal service.–

(1) A person desiring any legal service shall furnish an application-cum-affidavit addressed to the Member-Secretary of the State Authority, Secretary of the High Court Legal Service Committee, Chairman of the District Authority or the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee (hereinafter referred to as Authority or Committee), as the case may be, in a form approved by the State Authority.

(2) The Member-Secretary, Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee as the case may be, shall maintain a register of applications wherein all applications for legal service received under sub-rule (1) shall be entered.

23. Disposal of application.–

(1) On receipt of an application-cum-affidavit, the Member-Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, shall scrutinize the application for the purpose of deciding whether the applicant is entitled to get legal service in accordance with the provisions of these rules, and for the purpose of arriving at such a decision, he may, if necessary and required give personal hearing to the applicant but in doing so, the Member-Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee as the case may be, shall have regard to the fact that the applicant is a poor person or belongs to a weaker section of the society and deserved to be assisted. The application shall be processed as early as possible and preferably within fifteen days of its receipt.

(2) The decision of the Member-Secretary, the Secretary and the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee to provide legal service shall be subject to the confirmation by the concerned Authority or the Committee, as the case may be;

(3) Where it is decided not to provide any legal service to an applicant, the reasons for doing so shall be recorded in the register of applications maintained by the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, and information in writing to that effect shall be communicated to the applicant.

(4) No legal service shall be allowed to continue after the legal service is granted, if the authority or the committee is satisfied that,–

(a) the applicant has knowingly made false statement or has furnished false information as regards his eligibility ;
(b) in legal proceedings other than the one relating to criminal prosecution, there is no prima facie case to institute, or as the case may be, to defend the case ;
(c) the application is frivolous and fictitious or the applicant is not entitled to the same under the provisions of these rules ; or
(d) having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it is otherwise not reasonable to grant it.

24. Panels for legal service.–

(1) Every Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, shall prepare such number of panels of legal practitioners as it may consider necessary.

(2) Every panel prepared under sub-rule (1) shall remain in force till it is revised or modified by the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be.

(3) Appointment of a legal practitioner for legal service under these rules, shall be made as far as possible from the panel of legal practitioners prepared under sub-rule (1) by the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be :

Provided that the Executive Chairman may appoint a legal practitioner not included in the panel and in a special case, the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee may do so with the prior permission of the Executive Chairman.

(4) Every person included in the panel shall be required to communicate, in writing to the Member-Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, his willingness to serve on the panel.

(5) If any person after having agreed to serve on a panel neglects or does not discharge the duties properly, the Authority or the Committee, may delete his name from the panel and may also disassociate him forthwith from the legal service being provided by him.

(6) If any person after having agreed to serve on a panel, is guilty of misconduct or violates any of the provisions of these rules, he shall be liable to be removed from the panel besides any appropriate legal proceedings.

(7) Save as otherwise directed by the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, a legal practitioner who ceased to be on the panel whether on account of resignation or otherwise, shall, as soon as practicable after he so ceases to be on the panel, deliver within seven days all the papers pertaining to cases entrusted to him to the MemberSecretary, Secretary or Chairman of the Authority or Committee failing which he shall forfeit any claim to the legal fee or other dues, if any, besides appropriate civil or criminal legal action.

25. Duties of legal practitioner on the panel.–

(1) A legal practitioner appointed for rendering legal service to an aided person under these rules shall:-

(a) if the case is not concerning any legal proceedings, hear the aided person or any other person representing him and examine the papers and documents relating to the case and shall give his advice, in writing to the aided person and also send a copy of the advice so recorded to the Member-Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be; and
(b) if the case relates to any legal proceedings represent the aided person to act and plead for him in the legal proceedings and shall forthwith make a report to the Member-Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or Committee, as the case may be, on the action taken by him and also make monthly report to them in regard to the progress of the legal proceedings besides a report, in writing, within two days of the final conclusion of proceedings to the concerned Authority or Committee.

(2) The legal practitioner, so long as he remains on the panel, shall act in accordance with such instructions, as may be given to him from time to time by the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be.

26. Honorarium payable to legal practitioner on the panel.–

(1) The legal practitioners brought on the panel in terms of rule 24, shall be paid by the concerned Authority or the Committee such honorarium, as may be determined from time to time by the State Authority in respect of the legal proceedings conducted and advice tendered by them under these rules.

(2) No legal practitioner to whom any case is assigned for legal service shall receive any fee or remuneration whether in cash or in kind or any other advantage, monetary or otherwise, from the aided person or from any other person on his behalf.

(3) In case the final judgment or order is rendered by the court against the aided person, the concerned legal practitioner shall also submit alongwith his fee bill, his opinion, in writing, with reasons as to whether the case is fit for further a appeal or revision, as the case may be, within seven days of the receipt of the certified copy of final judgment or order.

27. Duties of aided person.–

(1) A person seeking legal service shall comply with the requisition or direction that may be made upon him by the Authority or the Committee from the date of application made for legal service till the completion or cessation of legal service or cancellation of eligibility.

(2) Every aided person shall execute an agreement agreeing to the effect that in the event of the Court passing a decree or order in his favour awarding costs to him or other monetary benefit or advantage (except an order of maintenance) to repay by way of reimbursement to the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, the amount of costs, charges and expenses of legal proceedings incurred by the Authority or the Committee in rendering him legal service and to facilitate such reimbursement, he shall also execute an irrevocable power to attorney authorizing the Member Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or Committee, as the case may be, to do all such acts and things, as may be necessary for recovery or realization of the amount decreed or ordered to be paid to him.

(3) The cost, charges and expenses which may be recovered by the Authority or the Committee under sub-rule (2), shall be credited to the State Government.

27-A. Award of Lok Adalat.–

(1) Every award made by the Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be decree of the civil court and executable as such.

(2) The award passed by the Lok Adalats in respect of cases pending in courts shall be executable by the courts in which these matters were pending prior to the passing of the awards by the Lok Adalats. However, the awards passed by the Lok Adalats regarding matters at pre-litigative stage shall be executable through the court of District Judge of the District in which the Lok Adalat is held.

27-B. Where a compromise of settlement has been arrived at by Lok Adalat in a case referred to it under sub-section (1) of Section 20 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the whole of the court fee paid in such case shall be refunded in the manner provided under the Court Fees Act, 1870. In case of aided person an irrevocable power of attorney in favour of Assistant District Attorney (Legal Services) for the refund of court fee and an affidavit shall be furnished to the effect that legal services provided to him did not include the amount of court fee sought to be refunded to him.

28. Operation of Bank Account.–

The Member Secretary, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Authority or the Committee, as the case may be, shall operate the account of the Authority or the Committee.

29. The experience and qualification of the other persons of the Lok Adalats.–

A person shall not be qualified to be included in the Bench of a Lok Adalat unless he is,-

(a) an eminent social worker, who is engaged in the upliftment of the weaker section of the society, including scheduled castes, women, children, rural and urban labour; or
(b) a lawyer of at least ten years standing; or
(c) a person of repute, who is specially interested in the implementation of the Legal Services Schemes and programmes; or
(d) a medical or any other expert as deemed fit by the Authority or Committee, as the case may be.

30. Transfer of assets of Punjab State Legal Service Board.–

(1) On and with effect from the constitution of the State Legal Services Authority under the provisions of section 6 of the Act;

(i) The Punjab State Legal Service Board constituted under rule 3 of the Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service to the Poor Rules, 1990 (hereinafter referred to as the said Board) shall stand dissolved.

(ii) all property, movable or immovable, belonging to the said Board shall vest in the State Authority and shall be applied by the State Authority to the objects and purposes of the Act and the rules framed there under; and

(iii) all the debts and liabilities of the said Board shall be transferred to the State Authority and shall thereafter be discharged and satisfied by it out of the aforesaid property.

(2) On and with effect from the constitution of High Court Legal Services Committee under section 8-A of the Act, the District Legal Services Authority under section 9 of the Act and the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee under section 11-A of the Act, all properties and assets of the State Legal Service Committees, District Legal Committees and the Sub-Divisional level Legal Committees constituted under the provisions of the Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service to the Poor Rules, 1990, shall stand transferred and vested in the corresponding aforesaid Committees or authority, as the case may be.

31. Transitory Provisions.–

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules the Punjab State Legal Service Board, State Legal Service Committee, District Legal Committees and the Sub-Divisional Level Legal Committees constituted under the Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service to the Poor Rules, 1990, shall continue to function till the State Authority, the High Court Legal Service Committee, the District Legal Services Authorities and the Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committees are constituted under these rules and the Additional Director who is Member-Secretary to said District Legal Committee under the aforesaid rules shall continue to function as such, till the constitution of the Authority or the Committees under the provisions of the Act and the rules framed there under.

32. Interpretation.–

If any question arises as to the interpretation of these rules, the decision of the Government thereon, shall be final.

33. (1) Repeal and Savings.– The Punjab State Grant of Free Legal Service to the Poor Rules, 1990, are hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken (including applications admitted or legal aid granted) by the Punjab State Legal Service Board, State Legal Service Committee, District Legal Committees or the Sub-Divisional Level Legal Committees (hereinafter referred to as Board, the Committees or Authority, as the case may be) immediately before the commencement of these rules in the exercise or purported exercise of its powers and authority conferred by or under the rules so repealed, shall be deemed to have been validly done or taken as if these rules had been in force at all material times and, accordingly, anything done or any action taken by the Board, Committees or the authority as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been done or taken by the State Authority, or as the case may be, by the corresponding Legal Services Authority or Committees constituted under the Act.

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