Govt Boosts Digital & Free Legal Aid for Persons with Disabilities

India is modernising its judicial system with a dual focus on digital accessibility and free legal aid for PwDs, ensuring that justice is not only a constitutional right but also practically reachable for all.

For this, Narendra Modi government is rolling out a nationwide push to make courts digitally accessible and ensure free legal aid for persons with disabilities (PwDs), combining reforms under the Legal Services Authorities Act, NALSA’s specialised schemes, and the e‑Courts Mission Mode Project. The initiative strengthens both physical court infrastructure and digital platforms, ensuring justice is inclusive, affordable, and speedy.

Digital Courts Go Accessible Nationwide, Free Legal Aid for PwDs

Legal Aid Framework

• Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 guarantees free and competent legal services to weaker sections, including persons with disabilities.
• Section 12(d) explicitly entitles persons with disabilities to free legal aid.
• NALSA Scheme 2024 focuses on persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, with Manonyay Units (LSUMs) established across States/UTs (except Lakshadweep).

Reach & Impact

• PwDs assisted under LSA Act:

Financial Year	Number of PwDs Assisted
2023–24	11,591
2024–25	8,313
2025–26	15,280

Judicial Infrastructure Boost

• ₹810 crore allocated for district & subordinate court infrastructure.
• ₹1,200 crore allocated for e‑Courts Project Phase III (digitisation, training, capacity building).
• Infrastructure must comply with disabled‑friendly design standards set by CPWD and DEPwD.

Digital Justice: e‑Courts Project

• Overseen by the Supreme Court’s eCommittee.
• 24 components under Phase III to build robust, inclusive digital infrastructure.
• ₹27.54 crore allocated for accessible ICT facilities.
• ₹6.35 crore allocated for S3WaaS platform to make court websites accessible for visually challenged citizens.
• Services include e‑Filing, e‑Pay, Virtual Courts, video conferencing, and National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

Challenges Ahead

• Uneven implementation: Lakshadweep lacks Manonyay units.
• Digital literacy gap: PwDs may need training to fully benefit from ICT tools.
• Monitoring & evaluation: Ensuring budget translates into real accessibility.

The information was given by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal Ji, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.