(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)
Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
(The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations)
If the fundamental rights of any person granted by the law are desecrated, the victim has the right to an effective remedy by the able state courts. Every person has the right to ask for legal help, when his/her rights are violated.
In simple words, the legal aid is a right itself. It is a crucial requirement for realisation of other human rights mentioned under Article 9, 10 and 11 (will be explained in other posts) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The right of legal aid includes the right to free legal aid in case the person does not have the means to pay for advocate/counsel.
Every government has the responsibility to take up all suitable measures to completely realise the right to legal aid within its territory. An ideal government officially guarantees the right to legal aid in its Constitution.
To exercise the right of legal aid, it is required that the Judiciary be autonomous, effective, and easily available.