Lok Sabha Question No. 3472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Justice for Weaker Sections of Society
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3472

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY - 21/03/2025

## JUSTICE FOR WEAKER SECTIONS OF SOCIETY

## 3472. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:

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

- (a) the details of Government schemes aimed to make justice accessible for economically weaker sections;
- (b) the details and numbers of individuals who have availed legal aid services under these schemes during last 10 years, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c) the success rate of cases filed under these schemes and the manner in which it compares to cases where private legal representation is used;
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to ensure the quality and effectiveness of legal representation provided under these initiatives;
- (e) the amount of funds allocated and utilized for these schemes in the last five years and the mechanism to monitor their impact; and
- (f) whether the Government has any proposal to expand or reform these schemes to enhance their reach and effectiveness, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) to (f): National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society including beneficiaries covered under Section 12 of the Act. This Act ensures that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable

settlement of disputes. In addition, NALSA has also formulated various schemes for the implementation of preventive and strategic legal service programmes, which are implemented by the Legal Services Authorities at various levels i.e. State, District and Taluka level.

Government is also implementing a Central Sector Scheme named 'Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice in India' (DISHA) for a period of five years (2021-2026), at an outlay of Rs. 250 crores. The DISHA scheme aims to provide easy, accessible, affordable and citizen-centric delivery of legal services through the TeleLaw, Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) and Legal Literacy and Legal awareness programme. Under the DISHA scheme, Tele- Law connects citizens with the lawyers through mobile app 'Tele- Law' and Toll Free number for rendering pre-litigation advice; Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono services) facilitates registered beneficiaries to avail pro bono legal representation in courts and under the Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme, citizens are empowered to know, understand and avail their legal rights, duties and entitlements. Till 28 th February 2025, DISHA scheme through its various programmes has covered approximately 2.10 crore beneficiaries in the country.

The Government of India is implementing another Central Sector Scheme namely; Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme through NALSA. LADCS Scheme aims to provide legal aid with regard to criminal cases only to the beneficiaries eligible for legal aid under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. The approved financial outlay of LADCS scheme is Rs. 998.43 crore for 3 years (F.Y. 2023-24 to F.Y. 2025-26). As on 30 th December 2024, LADC offices are functional in 654 districts across the country and has engaged 5251 staff including 3448 Defense Counsels. During the year 2024-25 (upto December, 2024), LADCS offices dealt more than 3.95 lakh criminal cases.

The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten financial years i.e. 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024) are at Annexure - A . The data related to private legal representation is not maintained centrally.

NALSA has framed 'The National Legal Services Authority (Free and Competent Legal Services) Regulations, 2010', which provides for establishment of the Monitoring and Mentoring Committee (MMCs) at all tiers i.e. Supreme Court of India, High Courts, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs)/District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and

Taluka Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) for close monitoring of the court based legal services rendered and the progress of the cases in the legal aid matters and to guide and advise the panel lawyers in providing quality legal services.

Funds under Grants-in-aid head are allocated and released to NALSA by the Government on yearly basis. The details of Grants-in-aid allocated to and utilized by NALSA during the last five years are as follows:

| Financial year   |   Fund Allotted (Rs. In Crore) |   Fund Utilized (Rs. In Crore) |
|------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                            100 |                            100 |
| 2021-22          |                            145 |                            145 |
| 2022-23          |                            190 |                            190 |
| 2023-24          |                            200 |                            200 |
| 2024-25          |                            200 |                            200 |

For implementation of LADCS Scheme, Rs 200 crore and Rs. 150 crore were released to NALSA during the year 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively. In addition, for DISHA Scheme, Rs. 171.15 crore have been allocated of which Rs. 156.13 crore has been utilised as on date.

In order to monitor the performance of the legal services authorities, NALSA receives monthly activity reports from all the SLSAs highlighting all the activities carried out in a particular month. Thereafter, a final activity report on monthly basis is sent by NALSA to the Government which is reviewed and compiled. Apart from monthly activity reports, NALSA also receives Annual Reports from all the SLSAs and prepares its own Annual Report, which is laid before both Houses of the Parliament. Further, All India and Regional Meets are also organized by NALSA to monitor the performance of Legal Services Authorities. Expansion and bringing reforms in an existing schemes is a continuous process which is carried out simultaneously during their implementation.

******

## Annexure-A

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3472 for answering on 21.03.2025 regarding Justice for Weaker Sections of Society

| The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   | The State/UT-wise details of number of persons benefited through legal aid services provided by the Legal Services Institutions during the last ten years i.e 2015-16 to 2024-25 (upto December, 2024)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Name of the State / UT Authority                                                                                                                                                                         | 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2016-17                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2017-18                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2018-19                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2019-20                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2020-21                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2021-22                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2022-23                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2023-24                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2024-25                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Andaman& Nicobar Islands                                                                                                                                                                                 | 57                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 39                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 119                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 51                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 43                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 65                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 79                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 134                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 220                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 205                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                           | 3526                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 5722                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7896                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4545                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4396                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4474                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 6371                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 9473                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 8265                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7185                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                        | 228                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 1172                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3760                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3752                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3932                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1984                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2657                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 5559                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 5696                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 6371                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Assam                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1083                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4215                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7033                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 8850                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 8002                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 10027                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 110254                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 38335                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 63749                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 60121                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 4257                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 9411                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 36567                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 78273                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 60139                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 38653                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 1689158                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 209809                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 151413                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 64390                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                                               | 1226                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2131                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2521                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3768                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2261                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1242                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1781                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2653                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2822                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2207                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                                                                             | 39829                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 38785                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 43165                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 67318                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 81713                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 26814                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 42394                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 44106                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 62164                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 59670                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli                                                                                                                                                                                      | 1004                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 131                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 15                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 28                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 28                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 10                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 27                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 28                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 55                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 32                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Daman &Diu                                                                                                                                                                                               | 16                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 9                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 16                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 17                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 24                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 34                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 70                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 31535                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 35286                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 42683                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 53015                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 79458                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 82131                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 79055                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 96433                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 121882                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 56471                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 1055                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1214                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1426                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1612                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3006                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 875                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 1101                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2041                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1558                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1281                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 12817                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 12030                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 19885                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 21541                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 26887                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 8302                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 21953                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 32422                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 40569                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 36540                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 9641                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 15811                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 18415                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 20326                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 19019                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 11059                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 23260                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 43098                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 76863                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 54796                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                         | 1611                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2340                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3634                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4842                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4368                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 2083                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4806                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 5998                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7346                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4845                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Jammu& Kashmir                                                                                                                                                                                           | 1605                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 3294                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 1402                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4022                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 4961                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7675                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 8870                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 7992                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 11396                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 12611                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                                                                | 4335                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 16007                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 79604                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 80640                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 30530                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 131691                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 649481                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 145217                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 269303                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 201453                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                                                | 3246                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 39878                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 53535                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 72621                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 145015                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 23211                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 32794                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 45663                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 53406                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 35209                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

| 17   | Kerala         |   14242 |   78021 |   97249 |   533259 |   71058 |   11242 |   16895 |   23418 |   36498 |   19579 |
|------|----------------|---------|---------|---------|----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| 18   | Ladakh         |       0 |       0 |       0 |        0 |       0 |      93 |    2408 |     711 |     505 |     261 |
| 19   | Lakshadweep    |       0 |       0 |     112 |        0 |       0 |       0 |       0 |       0 |       0 |       1 |
| 20   | Madhya Pradesh |   48711 |   68227 |  140081 |   199129 |  268351 |   87843 | 3343800 |  191921 |  225510 |  189493 |
| 21   | Maharashtra    |    7225 |    7692 |   14219 |    21265 |   24060 |   12278 |   22595 |   36663 |   53756 |   42480 |
| 22   | Manipur        |     107 |   10292 |   10208 |    19620 |   18257 |   56635 |   22651 |   26929 |   62635 |   66914 |
| 23   | Meghalaya      |    2342 |    2410 |    3802 |     3238 |    2914 |    2131 |    2346 |    2769 |    2371 |    1811 |
| 24   | Mizoram        |    4237 |    4741 |    8536 |    12716 |    9473 |    1670 |    3201 |    5038 |    4801 |    3228 |
| 25   | Nagaland       |    3981 |    8107 |   10749 |    38358 |    3691 |    4231 |    7750 |    7390 |    4603 |    3701 |
| 26   | Odisha         |    3270 |    3768 |    7011 |     9695 |    8025 |    6029 |    8849 |   11880 |   19289 |   16243 |
| 27   | Puducherry     |     993 |     729 |    1176 |     1299 |    1295 |     309 |     884 |     788 |     621 |     469 |
| 28   | Punjab         |   12090 |   21153 |   31991 |    36131 |  127829 |   27096 |   36404 |   56448 |   60361 |   48984 |
| 29   | Rajasthan      |    6112 |   15310 |   22002 |    14232 |   32413 |   12274 |   13833 |   13472 |   20290 |   16179 |
| 30   | Sikkim         |    1091 |    1073 |     982 |      960 |     928 |     702 |     986 |    1127 |    1074 |     693 |
| 31   | Tamil Nadu     |   59633 |   44522 |   59668 |    40835 |   35552 |   26491 |   38181 |   49570 |   45180 |   39403 |
| 32   | Telangana      |    1772 |    2620 |    9051 |    18396 |   15145 |    3488 |    6712 |   12615 |   13193 |   11287 |
| 33   | Tripura        |    2180 |    4972 |    9315 |    15089 |   13595 |    2156 |    2671 |    5055 |    9964 |    8339 |
| 34   | Uttar Pradesh  |    8774 |   68367 |   46371 |    76852 |   60819 |    3545 |  132629 |   24890 |   29079 |   19026 |
| 35   | Uttarakhand    |    1112 |    1905 |    2756 |     2703 |    3018 |    2343 |    3775 |    5386 |   21339 |   22798 |
| 36   | West Bengal    |   16727 |   25305 |   25901 |    36235 |   41956 |   20906 |   29015 |   49714 |   62354 |   65454 |
|      | Total          |  311670 |  556689 |  822856 |  1505216 | 1212137 |  631758 | 6369643 | 1214769 | 1550164 | 1179800 |