NALSA launches Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana to aid defence personnel, families

The launch of Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 was hailed as a significant step in bridging the gap between legal services and the nation’s defence community, resonating with NALSA’s motto: Access to Justice for All.

In a major initiative aimed at easing the legal burden on defence personnel and their families, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Saturday launched the Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 in Srinagar.

The scheme was unveiled in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority during the North Zone Regional Conference held at the SKICC.

Presiding over the launch, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA, Justice Surya Kant, said the event was not merely a legal dialogue but a tribute to the armed forces and an effort toward national integration. He said the scheme marked a historic moment in NALSA’s three-decade journey of delivering justice to the marginalised.

“Members of our armed forces and their families face legal hurdles like any other citizen — whether land disputes, service entitlements, or matrimonial issues — but their unique service conditions make access to justice more difficult. This scheme is our solemn pledge to stand beside those who protect our borders, ensuring their rights are not left unprotected,” Justice Kant said.

The Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana rests on three core pillars: establishing a dedicated network of legal services clinics at the Zilla, Rajya, and Kendriya Sainik Boards; deploying specially trained nodal officers, legal aid counsels, and paralegal volunteers (including ex-servicemen) for timely support; and providing digital access through online mediation and e-Lok Adalats to ensure convenience and speed.

Justice Kant underscored the constitutional obligation under Article 39A to provide equal access to justice for all, adding, “If we fail to extend this support to our jawans and their families, we fail in our constitutional duty. This yojana is our way of saying that just as they safeguard our freedom, we safeguard their dignity and rights.”

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, praised the initiative and said the scheme aligns with the government's push for inclusive justice, digital legal infrastructure, and fast-tracking cases involving armed forces personnel.

Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Arun Palli, also commended the scheme and stressed the need for judiciary-led technological solutions to prioritise and resolve legal matters faced by servicemen, ensuring that their limited leave is not consumed by court delays.

The launch of Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 was hailed as a significant step in bridging the gap between legal services and the nation’s defence community, resonating with NALSA’s motto: Access to Justice for All.