Equal justice and free legal aid
included in editionWhat does this mean?
The State should promote equal justice and free legal aid so economic or other disabilities do not block access to justice. Legal-services legislation and institutions put this policy direction into practice.
Policy directions for a fairer society, livelihoods, health, education, justice and public institutions.
A person unable to afford representation can check eligibility with the legal-services authority rather than assuming the Article itself supplies a private lawyer.
Why is this provision here?
A legal remedy can be ineffective if poverty blocks access to it. This directs policy towards equal access to justice and legal assistance.
Article 39A was introduced in its present subject framework by Amendment 42 (1976), after the original Constitution. The verified sources are the official edition and the linked Amendment Act and Bill statement. Original 1946–1950 Assembly debates predate this insertion and are not presented as its direct drafting reason. The explanation of function above is editorial; the Bill statement supplies the attributed legislative reasons for the later proposal.
The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.
Limits, exceptions & reading carefully
Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.
Read the official constitutional text
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles
2. Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.