(a) whether there is any proposal from the Government to ensure free and prompt justice to the poor and middle-class people;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is contemplating on the proposal to fix specific time schedule for disposal of the cases; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) and (b) The Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 provides free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society including beneficiaries covered under Section 12 of the Act to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities, and to organize Lok Adalats to secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunities.
For this purpose, the Legal Services Institutions have been setup at all levels from the level of Taluk Courts to the Supreme Court. During the period from April, 2019 to December, 2019, 8.96 lakhs persons have been provided with free legal services and 56.19 lakhs cases (pending in courts as well as disputes at pre-litigation stage) have been settled amicably through Lok Adalats.
In addition, Nyaya Bandhu (Pro-bono) programme under ‘Access to Justice’ Scheme provides a platform for linkage of beneficiaries covered under Section 12 of LSA Act with Pro-bono lawyers. Pre-litigation advice mechanism also exists under ‘Tele-law’ programme, wherein free legal advice is provided to beneficiaries covered under Section 12 of LSA Act & others with payment of Rs. 30/- per consultation at Common Service Centre (CSC) in the village.
(c) No Sir. Timely disposal of cases falls within the domain of the judiciary.
(d) Does not arise.