Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases

CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 (CrPC)

Section 304 - Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases

(1) Where, in a trial before the Court of Session, the accused is not represented by a pleader, and where it appears to the Court that the accused has not sufficient means to engage a pleader, the Court shall assign a pleader for his defence at the expense of the State. (2) The High Court may, with the previous approval of the State Government, make rules providing for- (a) the mode of selecting pleaders for defence under sub- section (1); (b) the facilities to be allowed to such pleaders by the Courts; (c) the fees payable to such pleaders by the Government, and generally, for carrying out the purposes of sub- section (1). (3) The State Government may, by notification, direct that, as from such date as may be specified in the notification, the provisions of sub- sections (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to any class of trials before other Courts in the State as they apply in relation to trials before Courts of Session