The government estimates it would spend Rs. 136.76 million annually to implement the proposed Free Legal Aid Bill, 2083, which aims to expand free legal services for disadvantaged people across Nepal.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam registered the bill in the House of Representatives on September 18. The proposed law would establish a National Legal Aid Council, an executive committee, and provincial and district legal aid committees to coordinate services across federal, provincial and local governments. The bill is currently at the registration stage and has not yet become law.

Of the estimated annual cost, Rs. 43.72 million would be spent on salaries for non-gazetted first-class employees in 65 districts and officer-level employees in all 77 districts through district legal aid committee offices. Additional costs would cover office operations and support staff.

A further Rs. 56.36 million has been estimated for paid legal practitioners. The proposed National Legal Aid Council, chaired by the Law Minister, would receive Rs. 7.5 million for its meetings, based on an expected 15 meetings annually.

Similarly, Rs. 4.5 million has been estimated for executive committee meetings, while Rs. 1.5 million would cover the secretariat expenses of the council and executive committee.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs currently spends around Rs. 104.45 million annually on legal aid committees and paid legal practitioners. If the proposed bill is implemented, the ministry estimates that the government's annual financial burden would increase by Rs. 48.71 million.

The proposed system would broaden the scope of free legal aid and coordinate services through a national structure. The bill also provides for legal aid services through courts, judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, as well as legal assistance for eligible people during case proceedings and other stages of the justice process.

However, the Rs. 136.76 million estimate does not include legal aid costs arising under the Senior Citizens Act, 2063, the Domestic Violence (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2066, or the Act Relating to Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2074.

It also excludes legal aid provided by the Nepal Bar Association and non-governmental organisations. Office rent has not been included because legal aid offices in some districts operate from existing government and legal institutions.