Lok Sabha Question No. 1107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Strengthening of Legal Aid System
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-†1107 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023

## STRENGTHENING OF LEGAL AID SYSTEM

## †1107. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAIVASAVA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to further strengthen the Legal Aid system to provide justice to the people belonging to weaker sections;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) to  (b)  Government  has  set  up  National  Legal  Services  Authority  (NALSA)  under  the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 to provide free and competent legal services to  the  weaker  sections  of  the  society  as  covered  under  Section  12  of  the  Act.  For  this purpose, the legal services institutions have been setup from the Taluk Court level to the Supreme  Court.7.45  lakhs  persons  have  been  provided  with  free  legal  services  during April, 2023 to September, 2023 and more than 4.02 crore cases (pending in courts and disputes  at  pre-litigation  stage)  have  been  settled  through  Lok  Adalats  April,  2023  to September,  2023.The  Government  extends  all  support  to  strengthen  the  legal  services authorities/institutions  in  the  form  of  Grants-in-Aid.  Funds  under  Grant-in-Aid  are allocated and released to NALSA by the Government on yearly basis.
- (c) Further, a scheme on Access to Justice titled 'Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice in India' is  implemented by the Government of India which aims to strengthen  Pre-Litigation  Advice  and  consultation  through  Tele-Law;  to  ensure  pan  India dispensation framework to deliver Pro Bono legal Services through Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) programme and to empower citizens through Pan India Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme. The Scheme embeds use of technology and developing contextualized IEC (Information, Education and Communication) material in regional / local dialect to support its intervention and to achieve easy accessibility of legal services to the poor and weaker sections of the society.

The Tele-Law service seeks to connect the beneficiary  with  the  lawyer  via  tele/  video conferencing facilities available at the Common Service Centers and through Tele-Law Citizens Mobile Application. As on 30 th November 2023, Tele-Law services is available across  2.5  lakh  Gram  Panchayats  in  766  districts  across  36  States  and  UTs  and  has rendered  legal  advice  to  60,23,222  beneficiaries,  which  includes  women,  children, Scheduled  Caste,  Scheduled  Tribe  etc.  The  Nyaya  Bandhu  platform  enables  seamless connect  on  the  Nyaya  Bandhu  Application  (available  on  Android/  iOS)  between  the interested  Pro  Bono  Advocates  and  registered  beneficiaries  entitled  for  free  legal  aid under  section  12  of  Legal  Services  Authorities  Act,1987.  As  on  30 th November,  2023, there  are  10,629  Pro  Bono  advocates  and  89  law  schools  have  constituted  Pro  Bono Clubs to facilitate the culture of Pro bono among law students. All these services under the scheme are provided free of cost to all citizens of the weaker sections of the society.

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