The Supreme Court Middle Income Group Legal Aid Society [MIG Society] is a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. Under the Rules and Regulations of the Society, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India nominates a Hon’ble Sitting Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to be the President of the MIG Society. The Ld. Attorney General for India is the ex-officio Vice President of the MIG Society. The Society has been functioning since 1994 and has provided legal aid to thousands of litigants till date.
How it Works
A person whose wishes to avail benefit of the legal aid scheme is required to submit an application to the MIG Society which is situated at 109, Lawyers Chambers, R.K. Jain Block, Supreme Court Compound, New Delhi alongwith necessary documents like order of the High Court sought to be challenged and copies of documents relating to the case. The litigant would be required to execute an affidavit and produce documents to show that his/her income is less than Rs.12,00,000/- per annum.
The litigant is required to deposit a sum of Rs.15,000/- along with the papers for processing his/her case by the MIG Society. This amount is intended to cover the fees for the Advocate-on-Record and the expenses involved [as per the schedule annexed]. A sum of Rs.750/- is retained by the MIG Society as Society Registration Charges and postage charges.
The litigant is entitled to an Advocate-onRecord from the panel of Advocates-onRecord which is maintained by the MIG Society. The litigant may indicate 3 names of his/her choice as Advocate-on-Record. If the litigant does not express any choice, then the MIG Society would allot the matter to an Advocate-on-Record as per roster. While every attempt would be made to honour the wishes of the litigant in appointment of the Advocate-on-Record, the MIG Society reserves the right to assign the case to an Advocate-on-Record different from the Advocate-on-Record chosen by the litigant.
The papers are forwarded to said Advocate-on-Record to opines whether it is a fit case to file a petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. If the Advocate opines that it is not a fit case for filing a petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the MIG Society would return the papers and the fee received from the litigant [after deducting Rs. 750/- towards Society Registration Charges and postage charges].
If the Advocate opines that it is a fit case for filing the petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Advocate-on-Record will draft the petition. The papers, if any, required from the litigant would be provided by the litigant to the Advocate-on-Record. The Advocate-on-Record would be responsible for processing the matter and getting the same listed. The litigant would also be updated by the Advocate-on-Record regarding the status of the case.
The litigant can, if he/she so desires, request for engagement of a Senior Advocate from the panel of Senior Advocates which is maintained by the MIG Society. In such cases, the litigant would be required to deposit a further sum of Rs. 25,000/- in favour of the "Supreme Court Middle Income Group Legal Aid Society."
After the disposal of the case, the Advocate on Record / Senior Advocate would be paid the amounts as per the Fee Schedule annexed herewith. The balance amount [after deducting Rs.750/- as Society Registration Charges, Legal Expenses and postage charges] alongwith the case papers would be returned to the litigant.
If the litigant does not wish to avail the services of the Society at any point of time, then the Advocate on Record would return the papers to the MIG Society with his/her memo of fees and expenses. The MIG Society would return the balance amount to the litigant [after deducting the fee/expenses and Rs.750/- as Society Registration Charges and postage charges].
If a complaint is received by the MIG Society from the litigant against the Advocate on Record, the MIG Society after enquiry may take such action as is deemed fit and necessary. If the Advocate on Record who is appointed under the Scheme is found negligent in the conduct of the case entrusted to him, then he will be required to return the brief together with the fee which may have been received. The name of the Advocate may also be struck off from the panel prepared under the scheme.
Resources
Important Links
MIG Memorandum & Rules, June 1999. Read More
Official website for the Supreme Court of India. Visit Site
Supreme Court Bar Association of India. Visit Site
District Courts. Visit Site
Our Executive Committee
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dipankar Datta
President
Judge, Supreme Court of India
Mr. R. Venkatramani
Ex-officio Vice-President
Attorney General for India
Mr. Pravin H. Parekh
Honorary Secretary
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Mr. Shyam Divan
Honorary Treasurer
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India