Under Article 39A (inserted by 42nd Amendment) and Article 21, the Supreme Court in Hussainara Khatoon case held that free legal aid to poor accused is essential for ______ justice.
- procedural
- substantive
- retributive
- distributive
Answer: procedural
Free legal aid jurisprudence: (a) Article 39A (DPSP): State shall provide free legal aid to ensure justice not denied due to economic disabilities, (b) Hussainara Khatoon (1979): Free legal aid essential for fair trial under Article 21; procedural justice requires equal access to legal representation, (c) Operationalization: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 establishing NALSA, State/District Legal Services Authorities, Lok Adalats. Ensures substantive equality: formal rights meaningful only with access to enforcement mechanisms.