---
title: "Article 39A: Equal Justice & Free Legal Aid | Model Diplomat"
description: "Article 39A ensures equal justice and free legal aid in India, preventing economic barriers to justice for citizens, as mandated by the Constitution."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/article-39a-equal-justice-and-free-legal-aid"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Article 39A of the Indian Constitution directs the State to secure equal justice and provide free legal aid to ensure no citizen is denied justice due to economic disability.
- When was Article 39A added to the Constitution and why?
- Is Article 39A legally enforceable in court?
- What legislation implements Article 39A?
- How does Article 39A differ from Article 14?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 3 January 1977

   Article 39A of the Constitution of India was not part of the original 1950 text; it was inserted into Part IV—the Directive Principles of State Policy—by Sec…

2. 9 November 1995

   The principal legislative instrument giving it effect is the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which came into force on and created a four-tier institut…

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Example

In 2020 the Supreme Court, invoking Article 39A and the Legal Services Authorities Act, directed State Legal Services Authorities to facilitate the release of undertrial prisoners to decongest jails during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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