In a major initiative to reduce the burden on India’s judiciary and enhance access to justice, the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, has introduced significant measures during 2025–26. These reforms include large-scale judicial appointments and the nationwide expansion of the Tele-Law program.
As part of judicial strengthening, 157 judges were appointed across various High Courts, with the highest appointments in Allahabad (40), followed by Bombay (21), Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (15 each), Punjab & Haryana (14), and others. Additionally, 47 Additional Judges were confirmed as Permanent Judges in High Courts such as Bombay (09), Madras (08), Andhra Pradesh (04), Calcutta (03), and more. The tenure of 13 Additional Judges was extended in High Courts including Calcutta (07) and Bombay (02). Further, 12 Chief Justices were appointed in High Courts such as Bombay, Gauhati, Jharkhand, J&K and Ladakh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, and Patna, while 44 judges were transferred between High Courts to optimize judicial efficiency.
Parallelly, the Tele-Law initiative has expanded its reach to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across 776 districts, including 112 aspirational districts and 500 aspirational blocks in 36 States and Union Territories. As of December 31, 2025, over 1.12 crore beneficiaries have received pre-litigation advice through Tele-Law services, supported by 275 engaged lawyers. To strengthen grassroots awareness, 638 district-level workshops and 280 awareness sessions were conducted, benefiting 37,514 participants including Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and government officials. Innovative outreach methods such as mobile vans, e-rickshaws, and bicycles were deployed to spread legal literacy in remote areas.
To promote constitutional values, the Department launched the national campaign “Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman”, complemented by sub-campaigns like Sabko Nyaya Har Ghar Nyaya, Nav Bharat Nav Sankalp, and Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyaan. These campaigns reached 70.70 lakh citizens through Doordarshan and Akashvani broadcasts, as well as grassroots activities. Law schools also partnered in villages to conduct awareness drives, including reading of the Panch Pran pledge and DISHA activities.
These initiatives underscore the Department’s commitment to strengthening judicial infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to justice for all citizens.
