Written Screening Test for selection for the post of Legal Aid Defence Counsels-Howrah Judges Court

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, HOWRAH

Details of Written Screening Test for selection for the post of Legal Aid Defence Counsels

Written Screening Test- Total Marks 35

 Objective type question- 15 Marks (1 mark for each question for 15 questions)
 Essay type question– 20 Marks (4 question of 5 marks each)

Time : From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Date of Written Screening Test : 06.11.2022

Venue : Court of the District & Sessions Judge, Howrah.

Subject of which questions can be asked

 Cr.P.C.
 IPC
 Evidence Act
 All Special Acts (Criminal)
 Matrimonial Laws (Criminal cases)
 Criminal Rules and Orders
 Information and Technology Act

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Secretary DLSA Howrah

Legal Aid Defense Counsel

Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office shall be dealing exclusively with legal
aided matters in criminal matters of the District or Headquarter (HQ),
wherein it is established. It shall be providing legal services from the early
stages of criminal justice till appellate stage, and the same shall include visits
to jails from catering to the legal needs of unrepresented inmates. Initially it
shall not be dealing with all type of civil matters and cases of complainant,
wherein present counsel assignment system (Panel Lawyers) will continue
to be operational.

The following end to end legal services shall be provided through the Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office:

o Legal Advice and Assistance to all individuals visiting the office,
o Representation/Conducting trial and appeals including all miscellaneous work in all criminal courts such as Sessions, Special and Magistrate Courts including executive courts,
o Handling Remand and Bail work,
o Providing legal assistance at pre-arrest stage as per need and also in accordance with NALSA’s scheme for providing such assistance,
o Any other legal aided work related to District Courts or as assigned by the Secretary DLSA,
o Periodic visit of Prisons of the district under the guidance of the Secretary, DLSA.

Selection Procedure:

After due publicity including public notice, applications will be invited and
a fair, transparent and competitive selection process shall be adopted by
DLSA under guidance of SLSA. Legal Aid Defence Counsels shall be
engaged on contract basis in each place/district initially for a period of two
years with a stipulation of extension on yearly basis on satisfactory
performance. The performance of each human resource shall be assessed in
every six months by SLSA in consultation with DLSA concerned. Selection
of Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense
Counsels, Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsels will be purely based on
merit, taking into account the knowledge, skills, practice and experience of
candidates.

The selection shall be carried out by Selection committee under
the Chairmanship of the Chief Judge/District & Sessions Judge (Chairman,
DLSA) as envisaged in NALSA (Free and Competent Legal Services)
Regulations 2010, subject to final approval by the ExState Legal Services Authority, West Bengal
City Civil Court Building, 1st Floor, 2 & 3, Kiron Sankar Roy Road, Kolkata – 700 001
Toll Free No. 15100  Ecutive Chairman, SLSA, W.B. In the selection committee at least three senior most judicial officers posted at HQ, dealing mainly criminal cases, preferably sessions
cases, will also be included. No person with conflict of interest shall be part
of selection process. After approval by the Executive Chairman, SLSA,
W.B., engagement contract will be executed between the Secretary, DLSA
and the person so engaged.

The eligibility criterions are as follows:-

Qualifications for Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel:

 Practice in Criminal law for at least 10 years,
 Excellent oral and written communication skills,
 Excellent understanding of criminal law,
 Thorough understanding of ethical duties of a defence counsel,
 Ability to work effectively and efficiently with others with capability
to lead,
 Must have handled at least 30 criminal trials in Sessions Courts,
aforesaid condition of handling of 30 criminal cases can be relaxed in
appropriate circumstances,
 Knowledge of computer system, preferable.
 Quality to lead the team with capacity to manage the office.

 MCQs – Objective Question Papers [Multiple-choice]

SOURCE :

State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal
City Civil Court Building, 1st Floor, 2 & 3, Kiron Sankar Roy Road, Kolkata – 700 001