Section 12 in The Maharashtra State legal Aid and Advice Scheme, 1979
12. Duties, powers and functions of Committees.
(1)It shall be the duty of the Committee to set up, administer and implement the legal services programme within the area for which it is constituted, and for this purpose to take all such steps as may be necessary having regard to paragraph 4 of the said Government Resolution and in accordance with the provisions of this scheme and the directions which may from time to time be issued by the Board.(2)Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Committee shall exercise the following powers and perform the following functions, namely(a)to receive and investigate applications for legal aid and advice;(b)to provide for giving of legal advice;(c)to maintain panels of legal practitioners and others for giving legal aid or advice;(d)to decide all questions as to the grant of, or withdrawal of legal aid;(e)to arrange to make payment of honorarium to legal practitioners on the panel for legal aid or advice provided by them and generally to provide for other costs, charges and expenses of legal aid from the grants placed at the disposal of the Committee;(f)to take proceedings for recovery of costs, charges and expenses recoverable under sub-clause (2) of clause 31 and to ensure that the same are credited to Government;(g)to provide for other legal services to the weaker sections of the community within its area;(h)to submit recommendations and suggest improvements in the working of the legal service programme;(i)to prepare, consolidate and submit such returns, reports and statistical information in regard to the legal service programme within its area, as the Board may call for;(j)irrespective of the means test, to initiate proceedings or grant aid-(i)in cases of great public importance; or(ii)in a test case, the decision of which is likely to affect cases of numerous other persons belonging to the weaker sections of the community; or(iii)in a special case, which for reasons to be recorded in writing, is considered otherwise deserving of legal aid.(3)The District Legal Aid and Advice Committee shall, in addition to the aforesaid powers and functions-(a)supervise, guide and direct the working of the Taluka Legal Aid and Advice Committees within the district; and(b)call for from the Taluka Legal Aid and Advice Committees in the district, such periodical reports, returns and other statistics or information as it may think fit or as are required to be submitted by the Board.(4)Every Committee may constitute sub-committees [or Legal Aid Centres] [These words were inserted by G. N., L. & J. D., No. LAB-1086/(65)-XIV, dated 10th July, 1986, clause 9.] for the more convenient transaction of its business.(5)Subject to the general superintendence and control of the Board, every committee shall exercise the powers and perform the functions conferred or imposed upon it by or under this Scheme.
