The Government of India has introduced a series of measures to ensure affordable, high‑quality and speedy legal services for all citizens, including persons with disabilities (Divyangjans). Under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987, every person with a disability is legally entitled to free and competent legal assistance.
As part of these efforts, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is implementing a dedicated programme—the NALSA (Legal Services to the Mentally Ill and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024. This scheme covers the entire country, including regions such as Dumka Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand, the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and tribal districts in Odisha. Special outreach drives were conducted in Jharkhand from 13 July to 26 August 2024, and again from 6 July to 20 July 2025, specifically targeting children with disabilities.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the Legal Services Authority has adopted a rights‑based approach to ensure inclusive legal aid delivery. Through District Legal Services Authorities, panel lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers, the UT provided legal assistance to 468 persons with disabilities in 2025. A total of 144 awareness programmes, attended by more than 7,200 people, were organised, along with 121 door‑to‑door campaigns to reach families directly at the grassroots.
Odisha has also taken significant steps to expand access to justice in tribal regions. The Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee, District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees handle applications from Divyangjans promptly and conduct regular legal literacy programmes. Village Legal Care and Support Centres operate in districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Phulbani, Rayagada and Sundargarh. Mobile Legal Aid Vans are deployed in these areas to ensure wider outreach.
Under Clause 5.1 of NALSA’s 2024 scheme, Odisha has set up specialised Legal Services Units called “Manonyay” in all 30 districts and at the taluk level. These units serve persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. More than 8,870 people across tribal regions have benefitted through 65 legal awareness programmes conducted in the state.
The Government is also strengthening the judicial infrastructure across the country under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at improving facilities in District and Subordinate Courts. This includes constructing court halls, residential units for judicial officers, lawyers’ halls, digital rooms and toilets—all designed to be disabled‑friendly and compliant with accessibility norms laid down by the CPWD and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
To make the justice system digitally accessible, the eCourts Phase III Project has introduced 24 major components geared towards building a robust digital ecosystem. Key features include enhanced ICT facilities for persons with disabilities, migration of websites of 752 courts—including High Courts—to the S3WaaS platform, which ensures accessible, easy‑to‑read content for visually challenged citizens. A budget of Rs 27.54 crore has been allocated specifically for improving digital accessibility.
