Lok Sabha Question No. 559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Free Legal Aid
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

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## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.559 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 4 TH  FEBRUARY 2022

## Free Legal Aid

## 559.     SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is successfully implementing Nyaya Mitra Scheme in Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof along with its aims and objectives;
- (b) the number of cases disposed-off during the last two years under the said scheme;
- (c) whether the scheme has achieved the objective for which it was set up and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  further  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  free  legal  aid  to  the  marginalized people?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to  (c)  Yes,  Sir.  Nyaya  Mitra  aims  to  facilitate  expeditious  disposal  of  decade  old  pending cases in High Courts and Subordinate Courts. Since April 2017, a total number of 27 Nyaya Mitras were engaged in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha and  Maharashtra  whoassisted  the  courtsconcernedin  disposal  of  2019  casesincluding  111 cases in Uttar Pradesh.The State-wise details of case disposal by Nyaya Mitra is at AnnexureA.  No  fresh  Nyaya  Mitra  could  be  engaged  during  the  year  2020-2021  due  to  closure  of courts  and  social  distancing  protocols  caused  by  Covid  pandemic.Nyaya  Mitras  who  were engaged  have  helped  in  disposal  of  2019  old  cases,  which  include  civil  cases  such  as matrimonial cases, accident claim cases and also criminal cases.
- (d) The Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 provides free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society including beneficiaries covered under Section 12 of the

Act to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and to organize Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunities. For this purpose, the legal services institutions have been setup from the Taluk Court level to the Supreme Court. During the period from April, 2021 to November, 2021, 60.17 lakhs persons have been provided with free legal services and 132.37 lakhs cases (pending in courts and disputes at pre-litigation stage) have been settled through Lok Adalats. In addition, the Government has launched Nyaya Bandhu (Pro-bono Legal Services) programme to link the persons eligible to avail free legal aid under Section 12 of LSA Act, 1987  with  the  pro-bono  lawyers.  3710  pro  bono  advocates  have  been  registered  under  the programme and 1485cases have been registered by the beneficiaries till 31 st December 2021. Tele-law  programme,  being  run  by  the  Government  across  669  districts  in  36  States/UTs provides legal advice to public including persons entitled for free legal aid under Section 12 of  LSA  Act,  1987,  at  pre-litigation  stage  by  the  Panel  Lawyers  through  75,000  Common Service Centre (CSC) at the Panchayats. Tele-law has enabled advice to more than 12.81 lakh beneficiaries till 31 st December 2021.

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| Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 559 for answering on 04.02.2022 raised by Shri Anurag Sharma on Free Legal Aid   | Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 559 for answering on 04.02.2022 raised by Shri Anurag Sharma on Free Legal Aid   | Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 559 for answering on 04.02.2022 raised by Shri Anurag Sharma on Free Legal Aid   |
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| A State-wise Statement containing number of cases disposed off by Nyaya Mitra                                                                          | A State-wise Statement containing number of cases disposed off by Nyaya Mitra                                                                          | A State-wise Statement containing number of cases disposed off by Nyaya Mitra                                                                          |
| S.No                                                                                                                                                   | State                                                                                                                                                  | No. of cases disposed off                                                                                                                              |
| 1                                                                                                                                                      | Bihar                                                                                                                                                  | 44                                                                                                                                                     |
| 2                                                                                                                                                      | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                            | 313                                                                                                                                                    |
| 3                                                                                                                                                      | Odisha                                                                                                                                                 | 169                                                                                                                                                    |
| 4                                                                                                                                                      | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                              | 1360                                                                                                                                                   |
| 5                                                                                                                                                      | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                          | 111                                                                                                                                                    |
| 6                                                                                                                                                      | West Bengal                                                                                                                                            | 22                                                                                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                                                        | Grand Total                                                                                                                                            | 2019                                                                                                                                                   |