Parliament Question: Legal Aid Services to Divyangjans

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1372 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY – 06/02/2026 LEGAL AID SERVICES TO DIVYANGJANS † 1372. SHRI TAPIR GAO:

SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

SHRI NALIN SOREN:

SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:

SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

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

(a) the details of the legal aid services available for Divyangjans including the nature of assistance provided and the coverage thereof, particularly in the Dumka Lok Sabha Constituency of Jharkhand, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and for those residing in the tribal areas of Odisha;

(b) the manner in which the specialized Legal Services Units established for persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities are functioning and the status of their availability especially in the tribal areas of Odisha;

(c) the details regarding the accessibility standards prescribed for judicial infrastructure, including Judgment Halls, Courtrooms, digital accessibility, assistive technologies and inclusive design standards, etc. and the extent of their compliance in Court Complexes located in the tribal areas of Odisha;

(1)(d) whether e-Courts Phase III includes enhanced accessibility features for Divyangjans, especially for those in tribal regions; and

(e) if so, the details thereof? 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) & (b): 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.

(2)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.

(c): 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.

(d) & (e): 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.

*****

(3)