The Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono Legal Service, a program under the DISHA scheme implemented by the Department of Justice, connects volunteer advocates with beneficiaries eligible for free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. This connection is facilitated through the Nyaya Bandhu Application, available on iOS, Android, and the UMANG Platform. As of June 30, 2025, approximately 14,888 women beneficiaries have registered under the app seeking legal assistance related to civil and criminal laws, including Women and Child safety, Family and Matrimonial disputes, Domestic Violence, Property Disputes, Workplace Harassment, etc. Currently, 9,261 advocates have volunteered and registered on the platform. A panel of Pro Bono Advocates has been constituted in 23 High Courts.
To further enhance the program's reach, Pro Bono Clubs (PBCs) have been established in 109 law colleges nationwide to instill a spirit of pro bono work among law students and provide community-level legal assistance and awareness in remote areas.
A dedicated portal, https://www.probonodoj.in, is available in 22 scheduled languages to broaden access to the Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono Legal Services. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials are provided through various channels, including messages from the Minister of State, Law & Justice (IC), print and digital material, Doordarshan broadcasts, advocate testimonials, a short film, and pamphlets distributed across District Courts, petrol pumps, convenience centers, and other public places.
The Nyaya Bandhu Application is integrated with Tele-Law pre-litigation advice services. Beneficiaries can consult with panel lawyers through the Tele-Law App and seek assistance from Nyaya Bandhu advocates. Awareness about Nyaya Bandhu is spread through Village-Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and Panel Lawyers at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and via the Helpline Toll free number 14454.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Law and Justice: The Indian government ministry responsible for legal affairs, legislative activities and administration of justice.
Nyaya Bandhu Legal Aid programme: A pro bono legal services program aimed at connecting volunteer advocates with beneficiaries in need of free legal aid.
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: An act of the Parliament of India to constitute legal services authorities to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society.
DISHA: Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice, a scheme implemented by the Department of Justice.
Department of Justice: The department responsible for implementing the DISHA scheme and overseeing the Nyaya Bandhu program.
Pro Bono Clubs: Clubs established in law schools to promote pro bono legal work among law students.
Tele Law: A pre-litigation advice service integrated with the Nyaya Bandhu Application under the DISHA scheme.
Arjun Ram Meghwal: Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of state in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Ministry of Law and Justice
Nyaya Bandhu Legal Aid programme
Till 30th June, 2025, approximately, 14888 women
beneficiaries have registered under the Nyaya
Bandhu App
To enhance the reach and effectiveness of the
Nyaya Bandhu program in remote areas, Pro Bono
Clubs (PBCs) in Law schools are engaged
Posted On: 31 JUL 2025 3:09PM by PIB Delhi
The Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Service) is one of the programmes under the scheme of “Designing
Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) which is being implemented by Department of
Justice. The Nyaya Bandhu program registers interested Pro Bono Advocates and connects them with the
beneficiaries (who are entitled for free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987)
through the Nyaya Bandhu Application (available iOS/Android/UMANG Platform). At present, there are
9261 advocates who have volunteered and registered on Nyaya Bandhu platform. A panel of Pro Bono
Advocates has also been constituted in 23 High Courts to strengthen institutional mechanism for delivering
pro bono legal services to the beneficiary. Further, to instill the spirit of pro bono work among law students
and nurture a long-term commitment to legal service, Pro Bono Clubs have been constituted across 109 law
colleges in the country.
To enhance the reach and effectiveness of the Nyaya Bandhu program in remote areas, Pro Bono Clubs
(PBCs) in the Law schools are engaged in providing community care legal assistance and legal awareness to
the beneficiaries in the villages, for a sustained pro bono participation nationwide.
In order to broadbase the outreach of Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services), a dedicated portal on Nyaya
Bandhu (https://www.probono-doj.in/) is available for the citizens in 22 scheduled languages of the country.
Access to relevant Information Education and Communication (IEC) material on Nyaya Bandhu has been
provided, in the form of message from the Hon’ble Minister of State, Law & Justice (I/C), print and digital
material relating to the registration process on Nyaya Bandhu Application for both citizens and Advocates,
broadcast of information through L-Band and Aston Band on Doordarshan, voices of Pro Bono Advocates,
short film on Nyaya Bandhu and dissemination of Nyaya Bandhu pamphlets across District Courts and
display of hoardings at the petrol pumps, convenience centers and other public places for enhancing outreach
in the country.
th
Till 30 June, 2025, approximately, 14888 women beneficiaries have registered under the Nyaya Bandhu
App, seeking legal assistance related to civil and criminal laws, including Women and Child safety, Family
and Matrimonial disputes, Domestic Violence, Property Disputes, Workplace Harassment, etc.
The Nyaya Bandhu Application has been integrated with Tele- Law (pre-litigation advice) services under the
DISHA scheme. Through the Tele- Law App, beneficiaries may consult with a panel lawyer on seeking
further legal advice and assistance from Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono advocate. With support from the VillageLevel Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and Panel Lawyers engaged in pre-litigation advice under Tele-Law, awareness
about the Nyaya Bandhu is being spread to the citizens in their regional language at the Common Service
Centres (CSCs) and via Helpline Toll- free number 14454. This seamless integration aims to create a
mechanism for delivering legal advice and assistance to needy beneficiaries across the country.
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 a written reply to a
question in the Rajya Sabha today.
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Samrat/ Allen
(Release ID: 2150649)