Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared an article authored by Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Law & Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen India’s legal ecosystem, improve access to justice, and make public services more citizen-centric.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “In this article, Union MoS Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal elaborates the government’s efforts to strengthen the legal ecosystem, promote ease of justice and make public services more accessible for citizens. He highlights that the push to upgrade both digital and physical infrastructure has enhanced the ease of working for advocates and judges.”
In his article, Meghwal outlined the transformation of India’s justice delivery system since 2014, describing judicial reforms as a combination of legislative modernization, institutional strengthening, and technological innovation. He said the concept of “ease of justice” encompasses ease of engagement for litigants, ease of working for legal professionals, and ease of understanding for citizens.
The minister highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving access to justice, including Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu programmes under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice scheme. More than 11.2 million people, particularly from rural and remote areas, have benefited from free pre-litigation legal consultations through Tele-Law. Services such as e-filing and e-Seva Kendras have also simplified interactions with the judicial system.
Emphasizing infrastructure development, Meghwal noted that the number of court halls across the country has increased from 15,818 in 2014 to 22,712. He added that over ₹9,400 crore has been disbursed since 2014 for the development of modern integrated court complexes. The ongoing e-Courts Phase III project aims to transform courts into fully digital, paperless, and AI-enabled institutions.
Meghwal also underscored the role of technology in making the justice system more accessible. AI-powered language tools such as SUPACE Vidhik Anuvaad Software and Bhashini are helping translate Supreme Court judgments and orders into 18 Indian languages, while the National Judicial Data Grid provides public access to information on more than 340 million court orders.
Highlighting reforms in criminal justice, Meghwal said the new criminal laws have been designed to address contemporary challenges. He pointed to the integration of e-courts, e-prosecution, e-prisons, and e-forensics with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) as a major step toward streamlining justice delivery. Platforms such as Nyaya Shruti are enabling virtual appearances and efficient recording of witness testimonies, reducing delays in judicial processes.
The minister also noted significant expansion in judicial capacity, with the sanctioned strength of High Court judges increasing from 906 in 2014 to 1,122, while the strength of the Supreme Court has risen from 31 to 38 judges. Over the past 12 years, 1,175 High Court judges and 77 Supreme Court judges have been appointed, reflecting efforts to strengthen the judiciary.
On the regulatory front, Meghwal said the government has removed more than 40,000 compliances and repealed 1,725 obsolete colonial-era laws, contributing to greater ease of doing business. He also highlighted reforms in alternative dispute resolution, including strengthening arbitration laws, establishing the India International Arbitration Centre, and enacting the Mediation Act, 2023.
Meghwal further noted India’s growing leadership in global dispute resolution, citing the adoption of the Gandhinagar Declaration during the BRICS Justice Ministers’ Meeting in 2026, which focused on strengthening mediation and arbitration frameworks.
Meghwal concluded that India remains committed to building a future-ready justice system that is resilient, inclusive, innovative, and aligned with the vision of a developed India by 2047.
