Srinagar, Feb 17: Secretary (Justice), Government of India, Niraj Verma on Tuesday said that over 7.5 lakh people in Jammu & Kashmir have directly benefited from the Tele-Law programme under the Disha Scheme, aimed at strengthening access to justice in remote and underserved areas.
He was speaking at a regional event-cum-workshop on Tele-Law activities organised by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary Verma, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said Jammu & Kashmir is not only geographically distinctive but also a profound embodiment of India’s pluralistic constitutional spirit, enriched by its shared cultural heritage and strong community values.
He expressed gratitude to the Union Law Minister for his visionary leadership in shaping and advancing the Disha Scheme and thanked the Chief Minister and the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for their presence, terming it a reflection of collective commitment towards strengthening legal awareness and access to justice.
“Our Constitution assures every citizen justice, social, economic and political. However, the real challenge lies in translating these constitutional promises into lived realities, particularly for citizens residing in remote and underserved areas,” Verma said.
He said ensuring that justice is accessible, affordable and timely for the last person standing in the queue remains the central objective of the Department of Justice. “It is with this vision that Disha, Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice was conceptualised,” he added.
Recalling Article 39A of the Constitution, the Secretary Verma said the Department of Justice had earlier implemented a special project for the North-East and Jammu & Kashmir from 2012 to 2017 to enhance legal awareness among the poor and marginalised, including undertrial prisoners.
“Legal aid was extended through law colleges and by establishing village-based legal clinics to ensure grassroots outreach.”
Building upon that foundation, he said several impactful programmes are presently underway under the Disha Scheme, including Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Pro Bono Legal Services and various legal awareness initiatives.
“In Jammu & Kashmir alone, the Tele-Law programme has directly benefited over 7.5 lakh beneficiaries by providing timely pre-litigation legal advice through a robust network of 4,193 Common Service Centres and panel lawyers,” he said.
Verma also informed that during the workshop, a comprehensive presentation titled “Disha in Jammu & Kashmir” would be made, highlighting the progress, outreach and impact of Tele-Law and associated initiatives in the Union Territory. “The presentation, he said, would provide valuable insights into the scheme’s performance, beneficiary reach and efforts to strengthen grassroots justice delivery mechanisms.”
He also extended gratitude to delegates, officers, stakeholders and field functionaries for their active participation in the regional workshop.
“Together, let us continue working towards strengthening access to justice, deepening legal awareness and upholding the constitutional values that form the foundation of our democracy, especially for the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said. (KNO)
