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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 69
ANSWERED ON 05/02/2026
FREE LEGAL AID AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
69 # SHRI PRADIP KUMAR VARMA:
Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:
(a) the number of people benefited from free legal aid, legal awareness and literacy
campaigns under NALSA and the outcomes thereof;
(b) the effectiveness of special legal aid cells, fast-track courts and victim compensation
schemes for women, SCs/STs, minorities and persons with disabilities;
(c) the improvement that has occured in access to justice through mobile legal aid clinics,
legal aid camps and Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural areas; and
(d) the number of people benefited in remote areas from tele-law, online consultations and
digital platforms?
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 (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF
RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 69 FOR REPLY ON 05.02.2026
REGARDING ‘FREE LEGAL AID AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE’ ASKED BY SHRI
PRADIP KUMAR VARMA
(a) The details of persons benefitted from free legal aid provided by legal services authorities
under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) during the financial year
2025-26 (upto November 2025) are as follows:-
Persons provided Persons benefitted Persons benefitted
Total
with Panel through through other
Advocates Advice/Counselling services
2,61,526 9,20,537 1,40,167 13,22,230
Details of Legal Awareness Programmes/Camps organised by Legal Services Authorities
and number of persons benefitted during the financial year 2025-26 (upto November 2025)
are as follows:
No of Programmes / Camps
Number of Persons attended
Organised
3,67,292 2,69,23,685
(b) & (c) Legal Services Clinics have been established across the country in many places like
Colleges/Universities, Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB), Child Welfare Committees (CWC),
Observation Homes, Villages, Community Centres, Jails etc. with an aim to facilitate
access to the legal services for people who face geographical, social, and other barriers.
These clinics are manned by Panel Lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers. The details of
Legal Services Clinics functional across the country and number of persons provided legal
assistance during the financial year 2025-26 (upto November, 2025) are as follows:-
Legal Services Number of persons
Categories
Clinics provided legal assistance
Law Colleges / Universities 872 18,654
Villages 5,479 3,45,604
Community Centres 833 94,377
Courts 1,109 1,28,347
Jails 1,145 3,66,292
2JJBs/CWCs/ Observation
538 46,758
Homes
For the people of North-East 45 421
Others 3,567 2,19,269
Total 13,588 12,19,722
Legal Services Authorities award compensation to the victims under Section 357A of
Cr. P.C (now Section 396 of BNSS), as per the Victim Compensation Schemes prepared
by the State Governments. These Schemes implement the concept of payment of
compensation by the State to the victims of the crime including women, SCs/STs,
minorities and persons with disabilities. During the financial year 2024-25 and 2025-26
(upto July, 2025), Rs. 4,84,67,37,631 and Rs. 1,54,02,87,605/- respectively has been
awarded as compensation to the victims.
The 14th Finance Commission had recommended the setting up of Fast-Track Courts
(FTCs) for expeditious trial of specific categories of cases including heinous crimes, civil
cases involving women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, individuals
afflicted with terminal illnesses, and property-related cases pending for more than five
years. As per information received from the High Courts, 879 FTCs are functional across
22 States/UTs as on 31.12.2025. In addition, pursuant to the enactment of the Criminal Law
(Amendment) Act, 2018 and in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019, the Central Government has been
implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the establishment of Fast Track Special
Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Court, since October, 2019.
These courts are dedicated to the time-bound trial and disposal of pending cases related to
rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. As per data
provided by the High Courts, 774 FTSCs, including 398 exclusive POCSO Courts, are
functional across 29 States/UTs as on 31.12.2025.
‘Panchayat’ being ‘Local Government’ is a State subject and part of State List of
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Panchayats are set up and operate through
the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts which vary from State to State, subject to the
provisions of the Constitution. Article 243G of the Constitution empowers the Legislature
of a State to make provisions, by law, for the devolution of power and responsibilities upon
Panchayat at an appropriate level, subject to such conditions as may be specified, with
3respect to the preparation of plans and implementation of schemes for economic
development and social justice.
(d) As on 31 December, 2025, 1,06,07,764 people across 776 districts (including 112
Aspirational districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks) have benefitted from the Tele-law
online consultations and digital platforms in rural/remote areas.
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