NALSA has introduced Legal Aid Defense Counsel Scheme, 2022 adopting Legal aid delivery-based model i.e. ‘Legal aid Defense Counsel System’ for proving legal aid in criminal matters on the lines of public defender system. Legal Aid Defense Counsel System involve full time engagement of lawyers with support system. NALSA, has implemented LADCS as pilot project in 17 states/UTs in 2020 and the same has made functional in Chhattisgarh along with other 12 states namely Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh.
After the establishment of Legal Aid Defense Council System office in three phases in 23 District Legal Services Authorities of Chhattisgarh state, keeping in view the geographical location and population of the respective Districts and the number of pending criminal cases, as per the requirement and within the prescribed number, the number of appointment of Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel and Assistant Legal Aid Defense Council in all the 23 Legal Aid Defense Council System offices of the state in the year 2024 is as follows :-
- Number of Districts where LADC office is functional : 23
- Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsels : 23
- Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsels : 32
- Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsels : 51
- Total No.of Legal Aid Defense Counsels in the State : 106