Measures by Government to make available affordable, quality and speedy legal services to the common man, including persons with disabilities
Measures by Government to make available affordable, quality and speedy legal services to the common man, including persons with disabilities
The Government has undertaken several measures to make available affordable, quality and speedy legal services to the common man, including persons with disabilities. The legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 provides for free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society including Persons with Disabilities.
NALSA is also implementing a specific Scheme for Persons with Disabilities named NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024. This Scheme aims to ensure that legal services are responsive to the specific legal and social needs of persons with mental illness and persons with intellectual disabilities. Under this Scheme, specialised ‘Legal Services Unit for Persons with Mental Illness & Persons with Intellectual Disabilities called ‘Manonyay’ (LSUM)’ units have been established in all States/UTs except Ladakh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
The details of the persons with disabilities provided legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 during the last three financial years and the current financial year 2025-2026 (upto December,2025) is as under:
Financial Year
Number of persons with disabilities provided legal services
2022-23
5,050
2023-24
11,591
2024-25
8,313
2025-26 (upto December, 2025)
10,119
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.
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.
This information was given by 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 in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.