Ministry of Law and Justice Regional Workshop and Reforms Utsav
The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India organized a Regional Workshop under the Tele-Law programme of the DISHA scheme and Reforms Utsav: Celebrating 12 Years of Reforms on 15 June 2026 at the Government Degree College (PG) Auditorium in Dharamshala, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The event brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on legal empowerment, access to justice, legal awareness, and transformative reforms in the justice sector.
Nyaya Prabodh Legal Awareness Campaign Launch
The centerpiece of the event was the launch of "Nyaya Prabodh – Awakening to Justice," a year-long legal awareness campaign aimed at deepening citizens' understanding of their constitutional and legal rights and responsibilities. The campaign includes three specific initiatives: "Know Your Rights in 90 seconds" for promoting legal rights understanding, "Nyaya Quiz" as an interactive platform for youth and students to learn about constitutional values and legal institutions, and "Pro Bono Pledge" encouraging advocates, law students, and legal professionals to voluntarily contribute their expertise for underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society.
Twelve Years of Judicial Reforms Achievements
The Reforms Utsav showcased transformative initiatives undertaken over the past twelve years to strengthen the justice delivery system. Major achievements highlighted include significant expansion of judicial infrastructure, increase in sanctioned strength of judges, establishment of Fast Track Special Courts for expeditious trial of sexual offence cases, and implementation of the eCourts Mission Mode Project to digitize and modernize court processes.
The technological achievements are substantial: over 4.10 crore hearings conducted through video conferencing, crores of cases e-filed, complete digitization of court records, and more than 32 crore case records made publicly accessible through the National Judicial Data Grid. The DISHA Scheme has provided pre-litigation legal advice and assistance to over 1.12 crore citizens, particularly benefiting women, rural communities, and marginalized groups.
Government Commitment and Legislative Reforms
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized access to justice as a constitutional commitment under Article 39-A, which ensures equal justice and free legal aid. He highlighted the government's extensive legal reforms including the amendment or repeal of over 1,725 laws. The Minister stressed the transformative role of technology in making justice more accessible, affordable, and citizen-centric, specifically mentioning the Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu initiatives for reaching underserved communities.
Regional Impact and Stakeholder Participation
Hon'ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shri Kavinder Gupta highlighted the importance of ensuring equal access to justice in remote and geographically challenging regions. The event featured a documentary showcasing technology-enabled legal services at grassroots levels, live interactions with Tele-Law beneficiaries sharing their experiences, and a segment on Pro Bono initiatives by Himachal Pradesh National Law University with experience-sharing by faculty and students engaged in community legal service. The Secretary, Department of Justice emphasized that accessible, inclusive, and technology-enabled justice is essential to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.