21. Conduct of cases in Gram Nyayalaya and legal aid to parties. - (1) For the purpose of conducting criminal cases in the Gram Nyayalaya on behalf of the Government, the provisions of section 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall apply. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), in a criminal proceeding before the Gram Nyayalaya, the complainant may engage an advocate of his choice at his expense to present the case of prosecution with the leave of the Gram Nyayalaya. (3) The State Legal Services Authority, constituted under section 6 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, shall prepare a panel of advocates and assign at least two of them to be attached to each Gram Nyayalaya so that their services may be provided by the Gram Nyayalaya to the accused unable to engage an advocate.
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