• UGI USER
  • Dec 20, 2022
  • 39 Likes
  • 0 Comments

“Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) Scheme launched for a period of five years 2021-2026 to advance the cause of access to justice”

Why in the News?

The “Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) Scheme was inaugurated for a duration of five years, from 2021 to 2026, according to a recent statement from the Minister of Law and Justice to the Lok Sabha.

What is the DISHA Scheme?

  • About:
    • It was established in order to offer an all-encompassing, comprehensive, integrated, and systematic solution for access to justice across India.
    • According to the Preamble and Articles 39A, 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, it aspires to ensure “Justice” for the Indian people.
    • It aspires to create and combine numerous projects to give legal services that are focused on the needs of citizens.
  • Components: There are three components under DISHA at present,
    • Tele-Law: Reaching the Unreached:
      • The Tele-Law Service connects the citizen with the Panel lawyers via video/teleconferencing facilities accessible at the Common Service Centres (CSCs) and via Tele-Law Mobile App in order to strengthen pre-litigation legal advice and consultation.
    • The Nyaya Bandhu Programme:
      • The Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Services) programme strives to give the underprivileged groups free legal aid and advice.
      • For iOS and Android mobile devices, the Nyaya Bandhu mobile application has been created to link registered Pro Bono Advocates with applicants.
    • Legal Awareness Programmes:
      • To provide for a more robust framework, Legal Service Institutions network at the National, State and District and Taluk level, constituted under the Legal Services Authorities, Act, 1987.
    • Information Education and Communication (IEC):
      • A specific Information Education and Communication (IEC) containing (Technology) component has been integrated into DISHA to ensure its expanded reach.

What are the Major Steps Taken on Access to Justice?

  • National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms:
    • The Mission has been pursuing a coordinated strategy for the phased liquidation of backlogs and pendency in the administration of justice, which includes, among other things, improved court infrastructure, including computerization, a strengthening of the subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures.
  • Improving Infrastructure for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts:
    • 9291.79 crores have been released since the inception of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities.
    • The number of court halls has increased from Significantly.
  • Leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT):
    • In order to equip district and subordinate courts with information and communication technology, the government has been implementing the e-Courts Mission Mode Project all across the nation.
    • There are currently 18,735 district and subordinate courts that are computerized.