Telangana’s Legal Aid Success Story

Legal aid beneficiaries in Telangana quadrupled from 5,490 in 2021 to over 20,000 in 2025

1. Mahabubnagar topped the state with over 10,000 beneficiaries, followed closely by Khammam
2. 141 full-time Defence Counsels are now operational across 33 districts under the LADCS scheme
3. The total number of cases disposed of by Lok Adalats witnessed a monumental rise, escalating from 3.59 lakh in 2021 to a peak of 1.47 crore in 2024, with 2025 recording 62.96 lakh disposals

In a significant revelation regarding judicial accessibility, the Ministry of Law and Justice has reported a robust increase in legal aid services across Telangana. The data was presented in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal. The report came in response to a question by BJP MP from Nizamabad Arvind Dharmapuri, who sought details on the status of legal aid infrastructure and beneficiary statistics in the state.

According to the data provided, the number of citizens receiving free legal aid has seen a consistent upward trajectory. While 5,490 persons benefited in 2021, the number surged to 20,200 in 2025. Over the last five years, a total of 65,692 individuals in Telangana have accessed these services.

Mahabubnagar emerged as the leading district, recording a total of 10,582 beneficiaries in the last five years, followed by Khammam with 8,220 and the Metropolitan Legal Services Authority (MLSA) Hyderabad with 6,825. Conversely, districts like Bhupalapally and Jogulamba Gadwal reported lower engagement, with 11 and 27 total beneficiaries respectively.

The government highlighted the critical role of Legal Services Clinics. As of November 2025, 314 clinics were functional in the state, providing legal assistance to 11,424 persons in the 2025-26 fiscal year alone.

Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms also showed massive throughput. In 2025, Lok Adalats in the state disposed of a staggering 62.96 lakh cases (including pre-litigation and pending cases). Mediation centers also saw improved traction, settling 1,245 cases in 2025, nearly double the figure from 2021.

Addressing the query on infrastructure expansion, Minister Meghwal detailed the implementation of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS).

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body established under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987. NALSA regularly conducts review  meetings with State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) to assess the impact of legal aid services. Simultaneously, all-India meetings of legal services authorities are held to evaluate the overall functioning of legal services institutions. During these meetings, officials from State and District Legal Service Authorities provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of legal aid services.

The Government of India is implementing a Central Sector Scheme, Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme across the Country including Telangana through NALSA with an aim to provide free legal aid in criminal matters to the beneficiaries eligible under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987. As of December 30, 2025, LADC offices are fully functional in 33 districts of Telangana. The state now employs 141 full-time Defence Counsels dedicated to providing representation in criminal matters for eligible beneficiaries, ensuring professional legal support from the initial stages of a case through to appeals.