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, Dharamshala, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The event brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on legal empowerment, access to justice, legal awareness, and the transformative reforms undertaken in the justice sector.

The Regional Workshop formed part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen access to justice through technology-enabled legal services.  The major highlight of the event was Reforms Utsav – Celebrating 12 Years of Reforms, which showcased the Department of Justice’s key achievements over the past twelve years in advancing judicial infrastructure, digital transformation of courts, legal aid and legal awareness programmes, judicial capacity building, and other citizen-centric initiatives aimed at making justice more accessible, efficient, and inclusive.

The event was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shri Kavinder Gupta along with Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The Secretary, Department of Justice, highlighted the significance of the Regional Workshop and Reforms Utsav as a platform to strengthen access to justice, promote constitutional values and enhance legal awareness among citizens. He said that the “Nyaya Prabodh – Awakening to Justice” campaign was an important step towards fostering legal literacy and citizen empowerment, while reiterating the constitutional commitment under article 39-A to ensure equal justice and free legal aid. Highlighting the importance of  Pro Bono Pledge, he acknowledged the contributions of law universities, legal institutions and justice sector stakeholder.

Referring to the event as a celebration of transformative progress in the justice sector, he noted the significant reforms undertaken over the past 12 years in areas such as judicial infrastructure, digital justice system, legal aid and citizen centric service delivery. Concluding his address, he emphasized that accessible, inclusive and technology enabled justice is essential to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

 The event saw 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 seeks to strengthen legal literacy and encourage greater public participation in the justice delivery ecosystem.

Under the Nyaya Prabodh initiative, several citizen-centric activities were launched, including:

• Know Your Rights in 90 seconds, a legal awareness initiative designed to promote greater understanding of legal rights and remedies among citizens;
• Nyaya Quiz, an interactive platform aimed at enhancing awareness of constitutional values, legal institutions and citizens’ rights, particularly among youth and students; and
• Pro Bono Pledge, encouraging advocates, law students and legal professionals to voluntarily contribute their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society.

The programme also included a segment on the Pro Bono initiatives undertaken by Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) with experience-sharing by faculty members and students engaged in community legal service.

 A documentary showcasing the impact of technology-enabled legal services at the grassroots level was screened during the event, featuring inspiring stories from beneficiaries of the Tele-Law initiative. The programme also included a live interaction with Tele-Law beneficiaries, who shared their experiences of receiving timely legal advice and assistance through the platform, demonstrating the transformative role of technology in bridging the gap between citizens and the justice delivery system.

Celebrating the achievements in the justice sector in the 12 years, the event showcased the transformative initiatives undertaken to strengthen the justice delivery system and enhance access to justice for citizens. The presentation highlighted major achievements, including the expansion of judicial infrastructure, increase in the sanctioned strength of judges, establishment of Fast Track Special Courts for expeditious trial of cases involving sexual offences, and the implementation of the eCourts Mission Mode Project to digitize and modernize court processes. The reforms have significantly improved the efficiency and accessibility of the justice system, with over 4.10 crore hearings conducted through video conferencing, crores of cases getting e-filed, digitization of court records, and more than 32 crore case records made publicly accessible through the National Judicial Data Grid. The Department also highlighted the impact of the DISHA Scheme, through which over 1.12 crore citizens have received pre litigation legal advice and assistance, particularly benefiting women, rural communities, and marginalized groups. The presentation underscored the Government’s commitment to leveraging technology, strengthening legal aid mechanisms, and creating a more transparent, citizen-centric, and accessible justice delivery system across the country, including in Himachal Pradesh, where initiatives such as Tele-Law, eCourts, judicial infrastructure development, and legal aid programmes have substantially expanded access to justice and improved service delivery.

In his address, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, emphasized that access to justice is a constitutional commitment and highlighted the role of the DISHA Scheme, including Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu, in reaching underserved communities. Referring to Article 39A, he underscored the importance of legal awareness in ensuring that more citizens benefit from these initiatives. He also highlighted the Government’s legal reforms, including the amendment or repeal of over 1,725 laws, and stressed the transformative role of technology in making justice more accessible, affordable, and citizen-centric. Referring to the historic example of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, who selflessly defended Shri Aurobindo Ghosh in the Alipore Bomb Case, he described pro bono advocates as guardians of justice and called for greater participation in the Nyaya Bandhu movement. The Minister also interacted with beneficiaries and appreciated the positive impact of the Department’s initiatives in strengthening access to justice at the grassroots level.

In his address, the Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, highlighted the importance of ensuring equal access to justice, particularly in remote and geographically challenging regions. Welcoming the launch of the “Nyaya Prabodh – Awakening to Justice” campaign, he described legal awareness as the first step towards access to justice and emphasized the role of technology, innovation, and collaboration in reaching underserved communities. He also lauded the justice sector reforms undertaken over the past twelve years and called for collective efforts to build a more accessible, inclusive, and citizen-centric justice system while encouraging youth to become aware of their constitutional rights and duties.

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Samrat