Functions of Board

(a) to supervise, direct and control- (i) the work of the committees; and (ii) the operation and administration of the legal aid and legal advice throughout the State: (b) to sanction expenditure for the administration of legal aid and legal advice: (c) to allocate funds for legal aid and legal advice to the committees: (d) to take proceedings for the recovery of costs awarded to aided persons: (e) to call for periodical reports from the committees: (f) to submit recommendation to the State Government regarding the administration of legal aid and legal advice and improvements in the practice and procedure of the courts so as to reduce the costs and delay in litigation: (g) to give general or special directions to the committees or functional committees for the proper discharge of their duties and functions: (h) to submit to the State Government an annual report of its work: (i) to screen cases for extending legal aid to be filed before or pending before the High Court and the Supreme Court: (j) Irrespective of means test to permit legal aid or legal advice:- (i) In matters of great public importance, or (ii) In selected cases, or (iii) In such special cases which the Board considers to be deserving of legal aid or legal advice; (k) render assistance to the members of the weaker section of the people to assert, defend or dispute a claim in legal proceeding; (l) to render assistance to the members of the weaker sections of the people in complying with various legal requirements in order to secure the benefits under various schemes sponsored by or on behalf of the Central or State Government for the welfare of general public or any section thereof; (m) encourage conciliation in legal proceedings; (n) to educate members of the weaker sections of the people in particular about the civil rights and the rights made available to them under various enactments: (o) to enlighten the people in rural areas about agrarian reforms and facilities made available to them from time to time and to render legal aid to them where necessary; (p) to arrange for publicity of important legislation having bearing on labour, woman, agriculturists, bonded labour, rural indebtedness and social reforms; (q) to sponsor voluntary organizations consisting of enlightened lawyers and law students and to assist such organisations to encourage them to render free legal assistance to the weaker sections of the people; (r) to sponsor legal advice clinics: (s) to undertake and encourage the conduct of research work in the field of legislation affecting weaker sections of the people; (t) to carry on such other activities as may be incidental and conducive to the objects of this Act: (u) to discharge such other functions and to perform such other duties for the purpose of carrying out the objects of this Act as the State Government may direct.