The Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) is a statutory institution constituted under Section 6 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its creation was mandated by the Act, which was enacted to give effect to Article 39A of the Constitution, ensuring that justice is not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities.
The MASLSA was formally created on January 19, 1998, via Notification No. 3/19/97-Act/L, issued by the Governor of Manipur. Its primary function is to implement the policies and directions of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society in Manipur.
The Authority works by providing legal aid to eligible persons, whose criteria are specified in Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, covering groups like women, children, members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, and industrial workmen. A key mechanism is the organization of Lok Adalats under Section 19 of the Act, which serve as an alternative dispute resolution system for amicable settlement of cases. The Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur serves as the Patron-in-Chief.
The MASLSA is intrinsically connected to the national legal aid framework, implementing the policies of NALSA and overseeing the work of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) at the district level. The Authority was reconstituted on March 24, 2015. More recently, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (Amendment) Rules, 2024, were published on February 8, 2024. The Supreme Court also recently directed the MSLSA to file a status report and ensure the registration and investigation of FIRs in unnatural death cases in relief camps.