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Department of Justice launches the iOS version of the Nyaya Bandhu Application and its onboarding on UMANG platform (MeiTY)
Nyaya Bandhu app
- Nyaya Bandhu mobile application was launched by the Union Minister for Law and Justice in February, 2019 to ensure empowerment of the common man by popularizing technology to a level that it becomes an instrument of change.
- Based on the premise of using technology to enhance access to justice for all, the Nyaya Bandhu app will allow marginalised individuals (referred to as “Applicants”), seeking quality legal advice and counsel, to connect via a mobile application with “Advocates”(Pro Bono legal service) who have volunteered their time and services on this platform.
- The Nyaya Bandhu application has been developed in collaboration with CSC eGovernance Private India Limited and is available in Hindi and English.
What is Pro Bono legal service?
Pro Bono comes from the Latin expression “pro bono publico” meaning “for the public good”. Many lawyers provide poor and underprivileged clients with valuable legal advice and support without seeking any professional fee.
About Nyaya Bandu programme
- The Pro Bono Legal services programme was launched by the Minister for Law & Justice in April 2017.
- An initiative of the Department of Justice, the programme is aimed at fulfilling the Department’s critical mandate of enhancing “access to justice” for marginalised sections of the society and the State’s constitutional obligation of providing “free legal aid” for all.
- The programme seeks to put in place an institutional structure which will promote pro bono culture in India.
- On one hand, the programme would facilitate delivery of quality legal assistance to the marginalised communities, on the other hand it would ensure that lawyers who volunteer their valuable time and service, towards this public service, are duly recognized for their contribution.
- Pro Bono Legal Services are, by nature, free of cost.
Who is eligible to get these benefits under the Nyaya Bandu programme?
Beneficiaries or Applicants, in order to avail the benefits under this programme must belong to one of the categories mentioned under Section 12 of The Legal Services Authority Act of 1987. These include:
- Member of a Scheduled Caste
- Member of a Scheduled Tribe
- Victim of trafficking in human beings or begar as referred in article 23 of the Constitution
- Woman or a Child
- Person with disability
- Person in custody
- An industrial workman
- Victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster
- Person with annual income less than as specified under law
Source: PIB & Ministry of Law & Justice
