DISHA Scheme (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice)
Context
A Regional Tele-Law Workshop was recently organised in Chennai under the DISHA Scheme to strengthen digital legal aid delivery and improve awareness of technology-enabled justice services.
Background of the Scheme
- Purpose – DISHA consolidates various legal assistance initiatives to expand access to justice, particularly for rural, poor and marginalised communities.
- Constitutional Basis – Supports the principle of equal justice and free legal aid through digital platforms and grassroots outreach.
Nature of the Scheme
- Scheme Category – Central Sector Scheme, fully financed by the Union Government.
- Year of Launch – April 2021.
- Implementation Period – 2021–2026.
Administrative Framework
- Nodal Authority – Ministry of Law and Justice.
- Executing Department – Department of Justice.
Constitutional Linkages
- Article 39A – Mandates the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid.
- Article 14 – Guarantees equality before law and equal protection of laws.
- Article 21 – Protects the right to life and personal liberty.
Operational Reach
- Geographical Coverage – Implemented across all States and Union Territories of India.
Core Goals
- Integrated Justice Services – Provide citizen-centric legal assistance through a unified framework.
- Technology Integration – Expand the use of digital platforms in justice delivery.
- Legal Awareness – Enhance legal literacy and awareness among citizens.
- Pre-litigation Assistance – Offer legal advice before court proceedings to reduce judicial backlog.
Major Initiatives under DISHA
Tele-Law Initiative
- Provides free legal advice before litigation through a panel of lawyers.
- Services are available through Common Service Centres (CSCs), the Tele-Law mobile application, and a toll-free helpline.
Nyaya Bandhu Programme
- Links pro bono advocates with individuals requiring legal representation.
- Pro Bono Clubs have been established in over 100 law colleges to promote volunteer legal services.
e-Courts Mission Mode Project
- Focuses on digitisation and modernisation of courts using Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
- Phase III (2023–2027) emphasises paperless courts and advanced digital case management.
- Includes Digital Courts 2.1 with AI tools such as LegRAA and SUPACE for legal research and case analysis.
- Virtual Courts enable online handling of cases like traffic violations.
- India’s first fully paperless district court was inaugurated in Kalpetta, Wayanad (Kerala) in January 2026.
Nyaya Sahayaks
- Introduced in 2024 to deliver door-to-door legal assistance and connect citizens with digital legal aid services.
Institutional Support for Legal Aid
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- Established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- Mandate – Provide free legal services to weaker sections, organise Lok Adalats for speedy dispute resolution, and promote equal access to justice.
Multi-Tier Legal Aid Structure:
- National Level – National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- State Level – State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs)
- District Level – District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs)
- Sub-District Level – Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs)
Source : PIB