Lok Sabha Question No. 3248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Nyaya Mitra Scheme
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

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

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LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3248 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 17 th DECEMBER, 2021

Nyaya Mitra Scheme

3248.

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL: DR. HEENA GAVIT: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has initiated Nyaya Mitra Scheme in the country including Maharashtra,  if  so,  the  details  and  the  aims  and  objectives  thereof  indicating  the number and particulars of cases disposed off under the said scheme, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any step to extend the scheme to other States of the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the timeline, if any, set for this purpose;
- (d) whether the scheme has achieved the objective for which it was set up and if so, the details  thereof  indicating  the  names  of  the  States  where  it  has  been  implemented; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  free  legal  advice  to  the marginalized people?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to  (d)  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 inthe States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal,  Rajasthan,  Odisha  and  Maharashtra  whoassisted  the  courtsconcernedin disposal of 2019old cases.The State-wise details of case disposal by Nyaya Mitra is at Annexure-A. 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.80 Nyaya Mitras will be engagedacross the country from 2021-2026.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. (e) 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 LokAdalats 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 September, 2021, 3.10 lakhs persons have been provided with free legal services and 75.41 lakhs cases (pending in courts and disputes at pre-litigation stage) have been settled through LokAdalats. 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. 3603 pro bono advocates have been registered  under  the  programme  and  1448  cases  have  been  registered  by  the beneficiaries. 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 enabledadvice to more than 12.5 lakh beneficiaries till date.

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## Annexure-A

| Statement as referred to in reply to Part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3248 for 17.12.2021 raised by Dr.SujayRadhakrishnaVikhePatil, Dr. HeenaGavit, Dr.ShrikantEknathShinde, Shri DhairyasheelSambhajirao Mane, Shri UnmeshBhaiyyasahebPatil A State-wise Statement containing number of cases disposed off by Nyaya Mitra   | Statement as referred to in reply to Part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3248 for 17.12.2021 raised by Dr.SujayRadhakrishnaVikhePatil, Dr. HeenaGavit, Dr.ShrikantEknathShinde, Shri DhairyasheelSambhajirao Mane, Shri UnmeshBhaiyyasahebPatil A State-wise Statement containing number of cases disposed off by Nyaya Mitra   | Statement as referred to in reply to Part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3248 for 17.12.2021 raised by Dr.SujayRadhakrishnaVikhePatil, Dr. HeenaGavit, Dr.ShrikantEknathShinde, Shri DhairyasheelSambhajirao Mane, Shri UnmeshBhaiyyasahebPatil 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |