• The Tele-Law 2.0 initiative was launched recently under Tele-Law program of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice.
• This version entails the fusion of Tele-Law Services with Nyaya Bandhu pro bono legal services.
  • This merger will help to further enhance citizen accessibility to legal aid.

About Tele –Law scheme

• Tele-Law means the use of communications and information technology for the delivery of legal information and advice.
  • This e-interaction between lawyers and people would be through the video-conferencing infrastructure available at the CSCs.

“Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice” (DISHA) Scheme was launched for a period of five years 2021-2026. It was launched in order to provide a comprehensive, holistic, integrated and systemic solution on access to justice at pan India level.

• Department of Justice had partnered with NALSA and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalised communities through Common Services Center (CSC).
• The program is operating under the DISHA Scheme.
• It was launched in 2017.
• Launched as a pilot programme with 1,800 CSCs in 11 states, the programme coverage has scaled up to 2.5 lakh CSCs covering 765 districts across 36 states/UTs in the country.
• The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as mentioned under Section 12 of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987. For all others a nominal fee of Rs 30 is charged.
• A dedicated web portal on Tele-Law is available in 22 regional languages.
• The number of beneficiaries of the Tele-Law Scheme have reached 50 Lakhs.
  • The overarching goal of the Tele-Law program is to reach one crore beneficiaries well before 2026.