14. Grants by the Central Government.—

The Central Government shall, after due appropriation  made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the Central Authority, by way of grants, such sums of money as the Central Government may think fit for being utilised for the purposes of this Act.  

15. National Legal Aid Fund.—

(1) The Central Authority shall establish a fund to be called the  National Legal Aid Fund and there shall be credited thereto—  

(a) all sums of money given as grants by the Central Government under section 14;  

(b) any grants or donations that may be made to the Central Authority by any other person for the  purposes of this Act;  

(c) any amount received by the Central Authority under the orders of any court or from any other  source.  

(2) The National Legal Aid Fund shall be applied for meeting—  

(a) the cost of legal services provided under this Act including grants made to State Authorities; 

2[(b) the cost of legal services provided by the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee; 

(c) any other expenses which are required to be met by the Central Authority.] 

2. Subs. by s. 11, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 29-10-1994).  

16. State Legal Aid Fund.—

(1) A State Authority shall establish a fund to be called the State Legal  Aid Fund and there shall be credited thereto—  

(a) all sums of money paid to it or any grants by the Central Authority for the purposes of this  Act;  

(b) any grants or donations that may be made to the State Authority by the State Government or  by any person for the purposes of this Act;  

(c) any other amount received by the State Authority under the orders of any court or from any  other source.  

(2) A State Legal Aid Fund shall be applied for meeting—  

(a) the cost of functions referred to in section 7;  

1[(b) the cost of legal services provided by the High Court Legal Services Committee;  (c) any other expenses which are required to be met by the State Authority.]  

1. Subs. by Act 59 of 1994, s. 12, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 29-10-1994).

17. District Legal Aid Fund.—

(1) Every District Authority shall establish a fund to be called the  District Legal Aid Fund and there shall be credited thereto—  

(a) all sums of money paid or any grants made by the State Authority to the District Authority for  the purposes of this Act;  

2[(b) any grants or donations that may be made to the District Authority by any person, with the  prior approval of the State Authority, for the purposes of this Act;]  

(c) anyother amount received by the District Authority under the orders of any court or from any  other source.  

(2) A District Legal Aid Fund shall be applied for meeting—  

(a) the cost of functions referred to in section 10 3[and 11B];  

(b) any other expenses which are required to be met by the District Authority.  

2. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 29-10-1994).

3. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 29-10-1994).

18. Accounts and audit.—

(1) The Central Authority, State Authority, or the District Authority  (hereinafter referred to in this section as ‘the authority’), as the case may be, shall maintain proper  accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts including the income and  expenditure account and the balance-sheet in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed by the  Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.  

(2) The accounts of the Authorities shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India  at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit  shall be payable by the Authority concerned to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.  

(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any other person appointed by him in  connection with the auditing of the accounts of an Authority under this Act shall have the same rights and  privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has in connection with the auditing of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to  demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to  inspect any of the offices of the Authorities under this Act.  

(4) The accounts of the Authorities, as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or  any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon, shall be forwarded  annually by the Authorities to the Central Government or the State Governments, as the case may be.  

4[(5) The Central Government shall cause the accounts and the audit report received by it under sub section (4) to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before each House of Parliament.  

(6) The State Government shall cause the accounts and the audit report received by it under sub section (4) to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before the State Legislature.

4. Ins. by s. 14, ibid. (w.e.f. 29-10-1994).