About this public safety scheme
The scheme aims to facilitate the expeditious disposal of ten to fifteen years old pending court cases. It provides legal advice, case assistance, and Lok Adalat referrals to marginalized litigants by engaging retired officers.
The scheme "Nyaya Mitra Scheme" was launched by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, in April 2017, and the scheme aims to facilitate the expeditious disposal of ten to fifteen-year-old pending cases in High Courts and Subordinate Courts. The scheme provides assistance to litigants suffering due to delayed trials by actively identifying cases, offering legal advice, and referring marginalized applicants to Lok Adalats for priority resolution. The applicant must be a retired judicial or executive officer with legal experience who acts as a Nyaya Mitra to support affected individuals. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Justice, and the applications for this scheme are accepted and managed at District Facilitation Centres housed within Common Service Centers.
Benefits at a glance
| Scheme name | Nyaya Mitra Scheme (NMS) |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Ministry Of Law and Justice |
| Benefit type | In kind (goods, services or support, not cash) |
| Category | Public Safety |
| Level / State | Central · All India |
| Official portal | drtktopecollege.in (link at the end of this page) |
Key facts
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme for | Individual |
| Application mode | Offline |
| Last date | Ongoing (no last date notified) |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | No |
| Age | 50 to 80 years |
Who can apply (quick check)
- 👤All genders
- 🎂Age 50 to 80 years
- 📝Offline
Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.
What you receive
- Expeditious disposal of ten to fifteen-year-old pending cases in High Courts and Subordinate Courts, including matrimonial cases, accident claims, and criminal cases.
- Active identification of delayed cases through the National Judicial Data Grid.
- Provision of legal advice and connection of litigants to the District Legal Services Authority, Common Service Centers Tele Law, other government agencies, and civil society organisations.
- Referral of marginalized applicants to Lok Adalats for prioritized dispute resolution.
- Assistance towards prison reforms within the district in coordination with the district judiciary and other stakeholders.
- Critical analysis of pending cases to assist Registrar Generals and district judges in understanding bottlenecks and finding solutions.
- Coordination with state and district authorities to enable witnesses to arrive on time or within a stipulated time frame for the early disposal of cases.
- Execution of follow-up actions such as issuing notices, summons, stays, injunctions, and letters to lower courts for summoning records pursuant to court orders.
Who qualifies
For Nyaya Mitras
- The applicant must be a retired judicial officer or a retired executive officer.
- The applicant must possess legal experience or an educational background in law.
For Beneficiaries (Litigants)
- The applicant must be a litigant whose case has been languishing in the subordinate courts for more than ten years.
- The applicant must be an individual for whom quality legal aid is not available due to social and economic barriers.
- The applicant must be suffering due to a delay in investigations or trial.
Who is not eligible
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Papers to keep ready
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*The following list of documents has been inferred from the eligibility criteria.
Registration walkthrough
Offline
Step 1: The applicant must visit the designated District Facilitation Centres housed within the Common Service Centers of the selected districts to seek legal assistance. The designated Nyaya Mitra actively identifies pending cases through the National Judicial Data Grid and reaches out to the affected parties to initiate support.
Step 2: The applicant must interact with the Nyaya Mitra to undergo a critical analysis of their pending case and understand the specific bottlenecks causing the judicial delay. The Nyaya Mitra then provides necessary legal advice and explores practical solutions in coordination with relevant government departments.
Step 3: The applicant must follow the guidance of the Nyaya Mitra to connect with the District Legal Services Authority, Common Service Centers Tele Law, or other civil society organizations. Cases identified as suitable are systematically referred to Lok Adalats by the Nyaya Mitra for prioritized and expedited dispute resolution.
Place of Work
- The sitting space for the Nyaya Mitra placed at the High Court will be allocated by the respective High Court.
- The Nyaya Mitra will be provided sitting space either at the District Legal Services Authority or the District Court, and no clerical support will be provided.
Frequently asked questions
Although the investigation of my case was completed on time, the actual trial proceedings have been drastically delayed; does this trial-specific delay make me eligible for legal aid?
Individuals who are suffering due to prolonged delays specifically during the trial phase of their legal proceedings are fully eligible to receive professional guidance and support.
I am a retired executive officer who worked in the government sector, but I possess formal legal experience; does this combination of qualifications meet the mandatory selection criteria?
Retired government or executive officers are strictly eligible to be engaged for this role provided they possess a legal background or relevant legal experience.
I am currently involved in a long-standing matrimonial dispute and am wondering if this specific type of personal legal matter qualifies for receiving the offered assistance?
The assistance covers various types of old, pending matters, explicitly including matrimonial cases that have remained unresolved for extended periods.
If my long-standing legal dispute has escalated and is currently pending before a High Court, is there still a possibility that I can receive assistance to expedite its disposal?
The objective explicitly includes facilitating the expeditious disposal of older pending cases that are currently situated within the High Courts.
Due to certain societal disadvantages and social barriers, I have been unable to secure quality legal representation for my ongoing court case; will I be considered for this support?
Litigants who cannot access adequate legal aid specifically because of social barriers are considered target beneficiaries and are fully eligible to receive the provided legal assistance.
The legal issue I am currently entangled in is strictly criminal in nature rather than a civil dispute, so would this type of matter still qualify for the provided support?
Criminal cases are specifically included among the types of old pending cases that the engaged professionals assist the respective courts in disposing of.
My current legal dispute has been continuously pending in the judicial system for over a decade, falling within the 10 to 15 years timeframe; am I eligible to seek speedy resolution?
Litigants whose cases have been languishing in the courts for 10 to 15 years are the primary focus for expeditious disposal and legal support.
I am currently incarcerated and facing issues within the district prison system; does the scope of this initiative include providing any form of assistance or intervention for prison-related matters?
The engaged professionals are mandated to render assistance towards prison reforms within the district, working in coordination with the district judiciary and other stakeholders.
My ongoing legal battle is currently being heard at the district level within a subordinate court rather than a higher appellate court; will my case still be eligible for intervention?
The initiative aims to facilitate the speedy disposal of old cases that are pending specifically within subordinate courts across the targeted districts.
My court matter has been severely stalled because the initial police investigation took an incredibly long time to conclude, so can I get help for the hardships caused by this delay?
Assistance is actively provided to individuals who are suffering hardships as a direct result of extensive delays during the investigation stage of their legal proceedings.
Is there a specific digital database or official platform through which the authorities will officially identify my long-pending court case to determine if I qualify for this support?
Cases are actively identified for intervention and assistance by sourcing data directly from the National Judicial Data Grid database.
As an individual facing severe financial constraints and economic barriers, I lack the funds to hire a capable lawyer; does my financial situation make me an eligible candidate for help?
The initiative targets and supports litigants whose economic barriers prevent them from obtaining quality legal aid, ensuring they receive the necessary guidance.
Having dedicated my career to the judiciary, I have recently retired from my post as a judicial officer, so would my professional background make me eligible to serve?
Individuals who have previously served and retired as judicial officers are expressly permitted to take up these positions to help facilitate the expeditious disposal of old cases.
I have been waiting years for a resolution regarding a vehicular accident claim that I filed for compensation; does the current framework include provisions for helping with these specific claims?
Accident claim cases are explicitly categorized as eligible for assistance and have been successfully disposed of through the intervention of the engaged professionals.
Submit your application yourself on the official portal; it costs nothing. Treat anyone demanding money to "get you approved" as a scam.
- More Information www.doj.gov.in
- Press Release (29.07.2022) www.pib.gov.in
tsmpb.in is not affiliated with any government department. Apply only on the official portal and never pay anyone for an application.
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