Law is an Hon'ble profession and an lawyers is an Officer of justice
. He is an integral part for the administration of justice. From the ancient times, the legal obligations of the lawyers to conduct the case of a poor litigant without reward when so required by the Court has been recognized not only in our country and in England but also in US and other Countries. However, in practice, Counsels have been assigned only in criminal cases of serious nature and a few civil cases.
The critical position enjoyed by an lawyer in administration of justice in fact imposes a responsibility upon him to ensure that justice is made available to all. Rule 46 of Bar Council if India Rules in part-VI relating to a standard professional conduct and etiquette reminds India lawyers of the obligation they owes to the society.
To ensure justice to poor and marginalized sections of the society, an lawyer is required to provide them legal assistance even when they are not in position either to pay him at all or adequately pay him for his services. In fact the least duty expected of an lawyer is to play his role sincerely in implementing the various legal aid schemes available under the Legal Services Authorities Act,
There have been many instances where Advocates in India have taken the causes of poor and downtrodden without any reward and have ensured justice to them. Unfortunately, there have also been instances where lawyers assigned by public funds have not faithfully played their role in implementation of the legal aid schemes which has cast a serious doubt on the very credibility of a scheme of legal aid available to weaker sections of society in India. The dark side of the legal aid scheme and how the lawyers are swindling the unsuspecting and ever gullible poor litigants as well as petty criminals and first time convicts, most of whom are so because of compelling circumstances
Thus, there is no doubt that legal community in India will rise to the occasion and meet the challenge successfully and effectively. Justice to poor alone is the lasting guarantee of continued existence of Rule of Law and democracy in the country.