Meghwal highlights inclusive and digital legal services
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, February 17, 2026:
A Regional Event-cum-Workshop under the Tele-Law Initiative of the DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) Scheme was held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, to strengthen technology-enabled access to justice and promote stakeholder coordination.
The workshop formed part of ongoing efforts to expand citizen access to legal services through digital platforms and to encourage informed deliberations among key stakeholders, including CSC representatives, law schools, judicial officers, advocates, administrators, field functionaries, students, and civil society groups.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and MoS for Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, attended as Chief Guest. Also present were Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Arun Palli.
The programme opened with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and a cultural presentation of “Vande Mataram” by local artists to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song. In his welcome remarks, the Secretary (Justice), Department of Justice, highlighted the constitutional mandate under Articles 14, 21, and 39A, and underlined the DISHA scheme’s role in ensuring accessible, affordable, and timely justice, especially for people in remote and underserved areas.
An informational film on Tele-Law was screened under the segment “DISHA Scheme — Yojana ke Aayaam: Sugam evam Sulabh Nyaya tak Pahunch,” explaining how the service provides pre-litigation legal advice through digital platforms. It also outlined convergence with the Nyaya Bandhu programme and the role of Nyaya Sahayaks in linking beneficiaries with qualified lawyers and pro bono legal support at the grassroots level.
Panel lawyers, Nyaya Sahayaks, and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) associated with Tele-Law were felicitated for their contribution to last-mile justice delivery, legal awareness, and citizen facilitation.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said access to justice is a constitutional right and stressed the need to reduce avoidable litigation and court pendency through early legal advice and alternative dispute resolution. He noted that Tele-Law has reached over 7.5 lakh beneficiaries across nearly 4,000 panchayats and has helped resolve many matters at the pre-litigation stage. He expressed confidence that continued collaboration and best practices would further strengthen justice delivery in the Union Territory.
In his address, Shri Meghwal described the Constitution as the foundation of justice, equality, and dignity, and said technology-based initiatives such as Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, and legal literacy programmes are key tools for inclusive justice. He emphasized that digital platforms are bringing legal services closer to citizens and that awareness and pro bono support must expand further so justice reaches people in villages and remote regions.
He also highlighted the importance of strong legal support systems for vulnerable groups and encouraged more focused workshops to widen the pro bono network. Interacting with VLEs, advocates, and students, he said collective institutional efforts can make Jammu & Kashmir a model for technology-enabled access to justice.
The workshop enabled experience-sharing and policy dialogue among stakeholders, strengthening coordination for effective last-mile legal service delivery. The vote of thanks noted that the event marked another step toward more inclusive and digital access to justice, with outcomes expected to translate into practical action on the ground.
