Lok Sabha Question No. 4652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA)
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel, Shri Dilip Saikia, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4652 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2026

## DESIGNING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR HOLISTIC ACCESS TO JUSTICE (DISHA)

4652. SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SMT.  SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SMT.  KAMLESH JANGDE:

SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA:

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

- (a) the total number of beneficiaries covered under the Tele-Law programme since inception, including the number of pre-litigation legal advices provided under the DISHA framework, with State-wise details including Maharashtra and Jalgaon district;
- (b) the  status  of  operationalisation  of  Tele-Law  services  through  Common  Service  Centres (CSCs), particularly  in  Aspirational  Districts  and  Blocks  including  south  Gujarat  and  the measures taken to enhance digital accessibility;
- (c) the  number  of  advocates  registered  under  the  Nyaya  Bandhu  (Pro  Bono  Legal  Services) programme  and  the  institutional  mechanisms  established  in  various  High  Courts  for monitoring and coordination of pro bono services;
- (d) the  steps    undertaken  to  strengthen  last-mile  delivery  of  legal  assistance  through  Nyaya Sahayaks and paralegal volunteers at the grassroots level; and
- (e) the  impact assessment conducted to evaluate improved access to justice for marginalised communities, including women and Scheduled Tribes?

## 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): As on 28 th February, 2026, more than 1.12 crore pre-litigation legal advices have been enabled under the Tele-Law programme since inception. It includes 8,72,704 pre-litigation legal advices enabled in the State of Maharashtra out of which 9,278 have been enabled in Jalgaon district. The State-wise details are at Annexure.

(b): As on 28 th February, 2026, Tele-Law services are operational through a network of 2.50 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across 777 districts in 36 States/UTs, including 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks which includes south Gujarat. To strengthen service delivery in Aspirational Blocks, Nyaya Sahayaks have been engaged who are active as community based legal facilitators in the Aspirational Blocks.  Digital accessibility has been enhanced through Mobile App and Toll Free No. 14454 for rendering pre-litigation advice through the use of video/Tele conferencing facilities available at the CSCs.

(c): Under the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) programme, advocates voluntarily provide legal assistance to marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society covered under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987. As on 28 th February, 2026, a total of 10,263 advocates are registered on the Nyaya Bandhu portal. To strengthen institutional coordination, Pro Bono Panels have been constituted in 23 High Courts across the country.

(d): Nyaya Sahayaks have been engaged in the Aspirational Blocks, where they conduct doorto-door awareness campaigns, assist citizens in registering cases on the Tele-Law platform through  the  CSCs,  and  guide  beneficiaries  in  accessing  pre  litigation  advice  from  panel lawyers. In addition, they coordinate with CSC operators, local institutions and community organisations  to  expand  outreach  and  ensure  that  legal  assistance  reaches  remote  and underserved populations.

(e): M/s.  Quality  Council  of  India  (QCI)  has  done  the  Third-Party  Evaluation  and  Impact Assessment of DISHA Scheme and highlighted the relevance of the Scheme for marginalised communities, including women and Scheduled Tribes.

*********

## ANNEXURE

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4652 FOR  ANSWER ON 20/03/2026  REGARDING  DESIGNING  INNOVATIVE  SOLUTIONS  FOR HOLISTIC ACCESS TO JUSTICE (DISHA)

| State-wise details of Pre-litigation advice enabled as on 28 th February, 2026   | State-wise details of Pre-litigation advice enabled as on 28 th February, 2026   | State-wise details of Pre-litigation advice enabled as on 28 th February, 2026   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr. No.                                                                          | States/UT's                                                                      | Total Advice Enabled                                                             |
| 1                                                                                | Andaman And Nicobar                                                              | 4,018                                                                            |
| 2                                                                                | Andhra Pradesh                                                                   | 3,66,071                                                                         |
| 3                                                                                | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                | 20,363                                                                           |
| 4                                                                                | Assam                                                                            | 2,40,397                                                                         |
| 5                                                                                | Bihar                                                                            | 6,26,006                                                                         |
| 6                                                                                | Chandigarh                                                                       | 6,146                                                                            |
| 7                                                                                | Chhattisgarh                                                                     | 5,09,230                                                                         |
| 8                                                                                | Dadra And Nagar Haveli &Daman &Diu                                               | 11,051                                                                           |
| 9                                                                                | Delhi                                                                            | 10,512                                                                           |
| 10                                                                               | Goa                                                                              | 13,516                                                                           |
| 11                                                                               | Gujarat                                                                          | 4,83,643                                                                         |
| 12                                                                               | Haryana                                                                          | 2,18,794                                                                         |
| 13                                                                               | Himachal Pradesh                                                                 | 1,20,670                                                                         |
| 14                                                                               | Jammu And Kashmir                                                                | 7,58,123                                                                         |
| 15                                                                               | Jharkhand                                                                        | 4,80,257                                                                         |
| 16                                                                               | Karnataka                                                                        | 4,88,245                                                                         |
| 17                                                                               | Kerala                                                                           | 36,563                                                                           |
| 18                                                                               | Ladakh                                                                           | 3,251                                                                            |
| 19                                                                               | Lakshadweep                                                                      | 2,482                                                                            |
| 20                                                                               | Madhya Pradesh                                                                   | 12,16,983                                                                        |
| 21                                                                               | Maharashtra                                                                      | 9,27,522                                                                         |
| 22                                                                               | Manipur                                                                          | 1,484                                                                            |
| 23                                                                               | Meghalaya                                                                        | 30,320                                                                           |
| 24                                                                               | Mizoram                                                                          | 34,051                                                                           |
| 25                                                                               | Nagaland                                                                         | 29,897                                                                           |
| 26                                                                               | Odisha                                                                           | 4,07,800                                                                         |
| 27                                                                               | Puducherry                                                                       | 3,228                                                                            |
| 28                                                                               | Punjab                                                                           | 3,01,498                                                                         |
| 29                                                                               | Rajasthan                                                                        | 6,62,392                                                                         |
| 30                                                                               | Sikkim                                                                           | 2,815                                                                            |
| 31                                                                               | Tamil Nadu                                                                       | 3,01,871                                                                         |
| 32                                                                               | Telangana                                                                        | 3,13,107                                                                         |
| 33                                                                               | Tripura                                                                          | 97,616                                                                           |
| 34                                                                               | Uttar Pradesh                                                                    | 20,31,066                                                                        |
| 35                                                                               | Uttarakhand                                                                      | 2,18,632                                                                         |
| 36                                                                               | West Bengal                                                                      | 2,68,025                                                                         |
| Total                                                                            |                                                                                  | 1,12,47,645                                                                      |

Source- https://tele-law.in/ (Tele-Law Dashboard Data)