Requiring Stenographers to Give Free Transcript of Notes to Indigent and Low Income Litigants

August 4, 1969

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6035

AN ACT REQUIRING STENOGRAPHERS TO GIVE FREE TRANSCRIPT OF NOTES TO INDIGENT AND LOW INCOME LITIGANTS AND PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF

SECTION 1. A stenographer who has attended a hearing before an investigating fiscal or trial judge or hearing commissioner of any quasi-judicial body or administrative tribunal and has officially taken notes of the proceeding thereof shall, upon written request of an indigent or low income litigant, his counsel or duly authorized representative in the case concerned, give within a reasonable period to be determined by the fiscal, judge, commissioner or tribunal hearing the case, a free certified transcript of notes take by him on the case. cdt

SECTION 2. A litigant who desires to avail himself of the privilege granted under Section one hereof shall, at the investigation, hearing, or trial, establish his status as an indigent or low income litigant and the investigating fiscal or judge or commissioner or tribunal hearing the case shall resolve the same in the same proceeding.

For the purpose of this Act, an "indigent or low income litigant" shall include anyone who has no visible means of support or whose income does not exceed P300 per month or whose income even in excess of P300 per month is insufficient for the subsistence of his family, which fact shall be determined by the investigating fiscal or trial judge or commissioner or tribunal hearing the case taking into account the number of the members of his family dependent upon him for subsistence.

SECTION 3. Any stenographer who, after due hearing in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 2260, as amended, has been found to have violated the provisions of Section one of this Act or has unreasonable delayed the giving of a free certified transcript of notes to an indigent or low income litigant shall be subject to the following disciplinary actions:

(a) suspension from office for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days upon finding of guilt for the first time;

(b) suspension from office for not less than thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days upon finding of guilt for the second time; and

(c) removal from office upon finding of guilt for the third time.

SECTION 4. This Act shall apply to all indigent or low income litigants who, at the time of its approval, have pending cases in any fiscal office, court, or quasi-judicial body or administrative tribunal.

SECTION 5. The Department of Justice shall prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, and the Department Head concerned shall provide the necessary supplies and authorize the use of government equipment by the stenographers concerned.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: August 4, 1969

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 66, No. 15, p. 3661 on April 13, 1970