Disha workshop highlights expanding access to justice; 10,263 lawyers join pro-bono network

Kurukshetra: Haryana chief minister (CM) Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said access to justice in India is being significantly strengthened through technology-driven initiatives like Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu, as over 10,263 lawyers have already registered for pro-bono services under the programme.Addressing a regional ‘Disha' (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) workshop at Kurukshetra University (KU), Saini emphasised that inclusive development and good governance — core to the vision of Narendra Modi — cannot be achieved unless every citizen is aware of their rights and assured of justice. The workshop, organised by the department of justice under the Union ministry of law and justice, saw participation from law students, legal experts, and academicians. Union minister of state for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh, justice department secretary Neeraj Verma, and joint secretary Suresh Kumar were also present. Technology bridging justice gap CM Saini said the DISHA scheme, backed by a financial outlay of Rs 250 crore, is a citizen-centric and technology-driven initiative aimed at ensuring justice for all. It operates through three key programmes: Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached, Nyaya Bandhu, and Legal Literacy & Awareness. He highlighted that under the Tele-Law programme, legal advice is being delivered to citizens in remote areas through a network of nearly 2.5 lakh Common Service Centres across 777 districts. People can also access legal assistance via a mobile app or the toll-free number 14454, supported by ‘Nyaya Sahayaks', who connect households to the platform. The CM added that legal awareness campaigns have already reached over 1.21 crore people across the country. 46.5% attend courts onlineHighlighting state-level reforms, the CM said Haryana has successfully implemented three new criminal laws within a short period, supported by modern tools like e-Sakshya and e-Summon applications. Over 2,145 video conferencing facilities have been established across police stations, forensic labs, courts, prisons, and banks. As a result, 46.52% of police personnel are now appearing in courts through video conferencing. He also noted that the conviction rate in criminal cases has reached 82.6% following the implementation of the new laws. Focus on equitable justice Speaking at the event, Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the govt's priority is to ensure that even the poorest citizens have easy access to justice. He reiterated that programmes like Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, and legal literacy campaigns are key to achieving this goal. He added that the initiative aligns with constitutional guarantees of social, economic, and political justice, and reflects the govt's broader commitment to inclusivity.Awareness van flagges offDuring the event, a DISHA awareness van was flagged off, e-books on customary laws of the northeastern region were released, and a Doordarshan documentary was launched. Several legal experts and participants also shared their views during the workshop. Ends MSID:: 129734420 413 |