Latest news with #ArjunRamMeghwal
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Indian courts burdened with backlog of 5.29 crore cases: Official data
Indian courts are burdened with a massive load of 5.29 crore pending cases, official data up to July 21 available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) showed on Sunday. The maximum number of 4.65 crore cases are pending in district and subordinate courts, followed by 63.30 lakh cases in High Courts and 86,742 cases in the Supreme Court, the data showed. Apart from the burgeoning case backlog, the district and subordinate courts appear to have struggled to work at full strength. According to the Department of Justice, as against a sanctioned strength of 25,843 judicial officers as on July 21, 2015, the lower courts are working with a strength of 21,122. 'Filling up of vacancies in District and Subordinate judiciary falls within the domain of the State/UT governments and High Courts concerned,' according to a statement by the Law and Justice Ministry. As a measure to reduce backlog, arrears committees have been set up in all 25 High Courts to clear cases pending for more than five years, and similar arrears committees have now been set up under District Courts as well, the Ministry said. Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a recent reply in Parliament, shared details of government measures taken to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court and the High Courts. 'From May 1, 2014, to July 21, 2025, 70 Judges have been appointed in the Supreme Court. Apart from this, 1,058 new judges were appointed, and 794 Additional Judges were made permanent in the High Courts during the same period. The sanctioned strength of judges of the High Courts has increased from 906 in May 2014 to 1,122 till date,' said Meghwal. He also informed that Fast Track Courts have been established for dealing with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women and children. As of June 30, 2025, 865 Fast Track Courts are functional across the country.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Vijay Diwas: Plan rolled out to give free legal help to soldiers, families
SRINAGAR: On Kargil Vijay Diwas, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, an initiative aimed at providing free legal aid to defence personnel, veterans, and their families. The scheme was officially launched on Saturday at Shri Kashmir Convocation Centre on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Supreme Court judge and NALSA executive chairman Justice Surya Kant, who presided over the conference, stressed on the importance of ex-servicemen serving as nyay mitras (legal volunteers) and supporting fellow soldiers and their families. The scheme will operate through legal clinics. Ex-servicemen will address the legal challenges faced by defence families across the country. The conference was attended by Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah. Sinha said the impact of 'legislative reforms' initiated after the abrogation of Article 370 has transformed the region. 'Before 2019, various central laws including two important central legislations — Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — were not applicable to J&K,' he said, adding these are now applicable and tribal community has been empowered. The CM praised the contributions and sacrifices of defence personnel, many of whom hail from J&K, he said. Omar, who also holds law portfolio, stressed the urgent need for compassionate and timely legal redress to those serving in remote and challenging terrains.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Legal aid clinic set up in Nagaland for soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families
In a bid to ensure access to justice for defence services personnel, a Legal Services Clinic dedicated to assisting serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families was inaugurated at the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB), in Nagaland's Kohima on initiative, launched under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), aims to provide free legal assistance to defence personnel, both serving and retired and their inauguration was part of the national launch of the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana - 2025, a flagship programme committed to ensuring legal support to the armed forces. The scheme is a joint effort by NALSA, Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs), Zilla Sainik Boards (ZSBs), and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), under the purview of the Defence national-level virtual launch of the clinics across all States and Union Territories was presided over by Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of the video conference from Srinagar were key dignitaries, including Chief Justices of various High Courts, the Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior officers from the Armed and Paramilitary forces, and members of the legal Nagaland, the Legal Services Clinic at RSB Kohima has been established in partnership with the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA).It will address legal concerns specific to defence personnel, such as pension disputes, service-related benefits, family matters, property rights, and civil at the local launch, Neiko Akami, NJS, Member Secretary of NSLSA, highlighted the importance of the initiative for the welfare of ex-servicemen. Officials from the Department of Sainik Welfare, members of the legal community, and ex-servicemen were also Director of RSB welcomed the move, stating that it would go a long way in supporting veterans and their families with timely and accessible legal initiative underscores the combined efforts of the legal and defence establishments in promoting legal awareness and justice for the armed forces, reaffirming the nation's commitment to those who have served.- Ends
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Government Assures Soldiers: Serve At Borders, Well Care For Your Family With New Yojana
New Delhi: For the first time in the country's history, the families of Indian soldiers will receive proactive legal assistance under a new initiative titled the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025. Designed to ease domestic legal burdens for troops posted in remote and challenging locations, the scheme sends a clear message: 'While you serve the borders, we'll serve your family's legal rights at home.' According to an NDTV report, the programme will be officially launched today at a conference in Srinagar by Justice Surya Kant, the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the incoming Chief Justice of India. The launch event is also expected to see the presence of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The origin of the scheme lies in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. As reported by NDTV, sources said Justice Surya Kant was profoundly affected by the sacrifices made by the armed forces during the operation and began contemplating how the judicial system could better support them. He reportedly stated that the legal community has a responsibility to assist soldiers who risk their lives for the nation but are often left to face personal legal battles alone. Set to be inaugurated before Justice Kant assumes office as Chief Justice of India on November 24, the scheme is aimed at resolving a persistent issue: soldiers posted in far-off or conflict-prone zones are frequently unable to manage ongoing legal cases related to property disputes, family matters, or land issues back in their home states. For instance, a soldier stationed in Jammu and Kashmir may find it impossible to attend court proceedings in Kerala or Tamil Nadu due to leave constraints or lack of access. The new programme will allow NALSA to step in and ensure legal representation in such cases, providing a much-needed support structure. The initiative will not be limited to the Indian Army alone—it will also extend to paramilitary forces, including personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and other security units serving in high-risk or remote conditions.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Serve At Borders, We'll Take Care Of Family': Soldiers Get Legal Lifeline
New Delhi: For the first time in India's history, legal assistance will now be provided proactively to the families of soldiers. The new initiative, titled the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, is aimed at relieving Indian soldiers from the domestic legal burdens while they serve in harsh terrains and far-flung regions. In the landmark judicial move, the message is: You serve the country at the borders, we will take care of your family at home. The scheme was formally launched today at a conference in Srinagar by Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the next Chief Justice of India. Attending the launch event are Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The programme has its genesis in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Sources familiar with the matter told NDTV that Justice Surya Kant was deeply moved by the sacrifices made by the armed forces during the operation and began exploring ways in which the judiciary could contribute more directly to their well-being. According to the sources, Justice Surya Kant remarked that the legal fraternity must do its part to ensure that soldiers defending the country are not left alone to handle personal legal crises. This thought has since culminated in the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, which Justice Kant is set to launch before taking over as Chief Justice of India on November 24. The new scheme is tailored to address a longstanding issue: soldiers deployed in isolated areas often lack the ability to follow through on legal cases involving family property, domestic disputes, or land matters. For example, a soldier stationed in Jammu and Kashmir may have limited access or zero leave to appear in court proceedings back home in Kerala or Tamil Nadu. Under the scheme, NALSA will intervene to ensure that such cases are properly represented in courts across the country. The support will also extend to paramilitary personnel, including those from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and others who serve in similarly isolated and high-risk conditions.
