Important for GS Prelims- Indian Polity and Governance/Government Schemes
About Nyaya Bandhu
- Nyaya Bandhu is a nationwide pro bono legal services initiative launched by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, in 2017.
- Integrated as a component of the umbrella scheme Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA).
Key Facts
| Particular | Details |
| Statutory Basis | Section 12, Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987 |
| DISHA 1.0 Outlay (2021–2026) | Rs. 5.34 crores |
| Current Phase | Restructured under DISHA 2.0 (2026–2031) |
| High Court Panels | 23 High Courts |
| Pro Bono Clubs (PBCs) | 109 law colleges, across 31 States/Union Territories (UTs) |
| Registered Advocates (May 2026) | 10,681 |
Key Functions of the Scheme
- Connects citizens with pro bono advocates via the Nyaya Bandhu Mobile Application (Android, iOS, Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG)) and a web portal (www.probono-doj.in), translated into 22 scheduled languages.
- Integrated with Tele-Law, primarily under “Tele-Law 2.0” (launched August 2023), routing beneficiaries from pre-litigation advice to court representation via a registered Nyaya Bandhu lawyer.
- High Court Panels: dedicated Pro Bono Advocate panels constituted across 23 High Courts.
- Pro Bono Clubs (PBCs): active in 109 law colleges, engaging students in legal awareness campaigns (anti-ragging, child labor workshops, women’s safety drives) and community outreach.
- Eligibility for advocates: any lawyer with a valid practicing license from a State Bar Council; pro bono work is considered by the government for judicial/state position appointments.
- Eligibility for beneficiaries: persons covered under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987 — Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, children, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, victims of human trafficking or mass disasters, industrial workmen, and those below specified income ceilings.
- Representation is free of cost; beneficiaries may cover minor incidental expenses (photocopying, typing, postage) by mutual understanding.
Related Bodies/Institutions
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) also provides free legal aid but does not oversee or participate in cases handled independently by advocates through the Nyaya Bandhu portal (MCQ trap: distinct administrative tracks despite overlapping statutory basis).
- DISHA / DISHA 2.0 — the umbrella scheme under which Nyaya Bandhu is financed and administered.
- Tele-Law / Tele-Law 2.0 — the pre-litigation advice component fused with Nyaya Bandhu for end-to-end legal aid delivery.
Conclusion
Nyaya Bandhu is a Department of Justice scheme (since 2017) institutionalizing pro bono legal aid under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987, now operating under DISHA 2.0, distinct in administration from NALSA despite a shared statutory basis.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article of PIB Centre Launches DISHA 2.0 to Expand Technology-Driven Access to Justice Across India |