**Executive Summary**
The document outlines measures undertaken by the Government to provide affordable, quality, and speedy legal services to the common man, with a focus on Divyangjans (persons with disabilities). It highlights the implementation of specific schemes like NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024, and initiatives taken by various Legal Services Authorities and the eCourts Project to enhance accessibility and awareness. The information was provided on February 6, 2026, by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legal Framework and Entitlement:**
* The Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987, ensures free and competent legal services to weaker sections, including Divyangjans.
* Section 12(d) of the LSA Act, 1987, specifically entitles persons with disabilities to legal services.
* **NALSA Scheme Implementation:**
* NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024, is being implemented nationwide.
* Special campaigns were launched in specific regions and dates to benefit children with disabilities.
* **Regional Initiatives:**
* The J&K Legal Services Authority has adopted an inclusive approach to legal aid delivery for persons with disabilities.
* In 2025, 468 persons with disabilities in J&K benefitted from legal services and were aided by awareness programs.
* The Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee (OHCLSC), District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), and Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs) in Odisha provide legal aid to people of tribal areas including Divyangjans.
* Odisha has constituted Legal Services Units: ‘Manonyay’ in all districts and taluks for persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
* **Infrastructure Development:**
* The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to develop infrastructure for District and Subordinate Courts.
* The scheme ensures disabled-friendly design in new infrastructure projects.
* **eCourts Project Phase III:**
* The eCourts Project Phase III includes 24 components aimed at creating accessible digital infrastructure for citizens, including persons with disabilities.
* A budgetary outlay of Rs. 27.54 crore has been allocated for enhanced accessible ICT-enabled facilities.
* Websites of 752 courts are being migrated to the S3WaaS platform (Secure, Scalable and Sugamya Website as a Service) to make them more accessible to persons with disabilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities)**
* **Impact:** Increased access to legal services, awareness of rights, and improved accessibility to legal information and infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available legal services and participate in awareness programs to understand and exercise their legal rights.
**Stakeholder: State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs)**
* **Impact:** Increased responsibility for implementing schemes and initiatives to cater to the legal needs of Divyangjans.
* **Action Required:** Implement NALSA schemes, conduct awareness programs, and ensure infrastructure accessibility for persons with disabilities.
**Stakeholder: Courts and Judicial Officers**
* **Impact:** Requirement to ensure accessibility of court premises and digital platforms for persons with disabilities.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to accessibility standards, utilize eCourts Project Phase III resources, and promote inclusive practices in court proceedings.
Key Entities Referenced
Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987: Act providing free and competent legal services to weaker sections, including Divyangjans, entitling persons with disabilities to legal services.
NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024: A specific scheme by NALSA for providing legal services to Divyangjans (mentally ill and intellectually disabled) implemented throughout the country.
NALSA: Organization implementing a scheme for Divyangjans and whose mandate guides the J&K Legal Services Authority.
Odisha: A state where immediate steps are being taken by the Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees to provide legal aid services to people of tribal areas including Divyangians
eCourts Project Phase III: Project focused on creating accessible digital infrastructure for citizens, including Persons with Disabilities, with features for easy visibility of content for partially and completely visually challenged citizens.
Ministry of Law and Justice
MEASURES BY GOVERNMENT TO MAKE
AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE, QUALITY AND
SPEEDY LEGAL SERVICES TO THE COMMON
MAN, INCLUDING DIVYANGJANS
Posted On: 06 FEB 2026 1:31PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has undertaken several measures to make available affordable, quality and speedy legal
services to the common man, including Divyangjans. The Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987
provides for free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society including
Divyangjans. As per Section 12(d) of the LSA Act, 1987, a person with disability is entitled to legal
services.
NALSA is implementing a specific Scheme for Divyangjans named NALSA (Legal Services to the
Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024. This Scheme is implemented
throughout the Country including Dumka Lok Sabha Constituency of Jharkhand, UT of Jammu &
Kashmir and tribal areas of Odisha. Special campaign were launched on two occasions, one from
13.07.2024 to 26.08.2024 and another from 06.07.2025 to 20.07.2025 throughout the State of
Jharkhand including the Dumka Lok Sabha Constituency for children with disability.
In alignment with the mandate of the NALSA, the J&K Legal Services Authority has adopted a right
based and inclusive approach towards legal aid delivery for persons with disabilities through District
Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), Panel Advocates, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and specialized
legal services units. During the year 2025, a total of 468 persons with disabilities were benefitted
through different modes of legal services in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. A total of 144
awareness programs were organized which were attended by 7,211 persons. In addition, 121 door-to-
door awareness programs were also conducted by Para Legal Volunteers to reach persons with
disabilities and their families at the grassroot level.
In the State of Odisha, immediate steps are taken by the Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee
(OHCLSC), District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and Taluk Legal Services Committees
(TLSCs) to provide legal aid services to people of tribal areas including Divyangians on receipt of
applications. Legal literacy/ awareness programs are also organized for creating awareness about
various schemes of Central/ State Government particularly for the Divyangians. Village Legal Care and
Support Centres are also functioning in the tribal areas such as Koraput, Malkangiri, Keonjhar,
Mayurbhanj, Phulban, Rayagada and Sundargarh. That apart, Mobile Legal Aid Van are also being
deployed in the tribal areas of the aforesaid districts for creating awareness.
As per the clause 5.1 of NALSA (Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024, Odisha has constituted Legal Services Units: ‘Manonyay’ in all
the 30 districts and taluk level of the State for persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
More than 8,870 persons of the tribal areas have benefited through 65 legal awareness programs
organized in the State of Odisha.The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for development of infrastructure
facilities for the District and Subordinate Courts by augmenting the resources of the State
Governments/UTs for construction of Court Halls, Residential Units for Judicial Officers, Lawyers’
Hall, Digital Computer Rooms and Toilet Complexes. As per guidelines of the Scheme, the States/UTs
ensures that the proposed infrastructure have disabled-friendly design. The building design are in
conformity with the requisite norms/accessibility standards as laid down by Central Public Works
Department, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, from time to time.
Under eCourts Project Phase III, there are 24 components that have several significant measures
devised to foster the creation of a robust and accessible digital infrastructure for citizens including
Persons with Disabilities. Provision has been made for providing enhanced accessible ICT enabled
facilities to persons with disabilities, at a budgetary outlay of Rs. 27.54 crore, migration of websites of
752 Courts (including High Courts) to S3WaaS platform (Secure, Scalable and Sugamya Website as a
Service) that makes the website friendly for Persons with Disabilities. S3WaaS platform has features
for easy visibility of content for partially and completely visually challenged citizens.
This information was given by the 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 in Lok Sabha today.
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