The Indian Minister of Law and Justice recently announced to the Lok Sabha that the “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) Scheme is being rolled out for a period of five years (2021-2026).
About DISHA Scheme
The DISHA Scheme has been initiated with the objective of furnishing a comprehensive, integrated, and systemic solution to access to justice across India. The scheme’s primary purpose is to ensure “Justice” to the Indian population as articulated in the Preamble and under Articles 39A, 14, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. It specifically aims to consolidate various initiatives for citizen-centric delivery of legal services.
The Components of DISHA
Currently, there are three components of the DISHA. The first component, Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached, strives to fortify the provision of pre-litigation legal advice and consultation. Through technologies such as video or teleconferencing facilities, citizens are connected to panel lawyers at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and through the Tele-Law Mobile App.
The second component is The Nyaya Bandhu Programme, designed to provide free legal assistance and counsel to marginalized sections of society. The Nyaya Bandhu Mobile Application connects registered Pro Bono Advocates with registered applicants.
The third component is Legal Awareness Programmes delivered through the Legal Service Institutions network constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. These networks operate at the National, State, District, and Taluk levels, ensuring a strong legal framework for all citizens.
An additional feature, Information Education and Communication (IEC), has been integrated into the DISHA scheme to expand its reach. It includes a technology component dedicated to widening access to justice.
Major Steps Taken on Access to Justice
The National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms has been working towards a coordinated approach for phased elimination of arrears and pendency in the judicial administration. The mission focuses on better infrastructure for courts, computerization, increased strength in subordinate judiciary, policy, and legislative measures.
To improve infrastructure for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts, Rs. 9291.79 crores have been released through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities. This has significantly increased the number of court halls across the country.
The government has also been leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the efficient operation of district and subordinate courts. Under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, the number of computerized district & subordinate courts has increased to 18,735.
Previous Year Questions on UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the Civil Services Examination of 2013, candidates were asked to consider statements about the National Legal Services Authority. The objective was to discern whether its primary aim was to provide free and competent legal services to society’s weaker sections based on equal opportunity and if it issued guidelines for State Legal Services Authorities to implement legal programs and schemes countrywide.
In the examination of 2020, candidates were asked to identify which citizens receive free legal services from Legal Services Authorities. The options provided were persons earning less than `1,00,000 annually, transgenders earning less than `2,00,000 annually, members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) earning less than `3,00,000 annually, and all senior citizens.
