India unveils first-ever legal aid scheme for soldiers’ families to ease personal burdens during deployment

The initiative, called the NALSA Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, is designed to ease the personal legal burdens that soldiers often carry while posted far from home, according to an NDTV report.

“This is our message: You serve the country at the borders, we will take care of your family at home,” the judiciary declared through the scheme’s launch, signalling a significant shift in institutional support for the armed forces.

The programme was officially rolled out on Saturday in Srinagar by Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the next Chief Justice of India.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present at the event.

The idea for the scheme emerged in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Justice Surya Kant was moved by the hardships endured by soldiers during the operation and began exploring how the judiciary could offer more tangible support.

He reportedly remarked that the legal system has a duty to stand by the men and women defending the nation, particularly when they are unable to address personal legal matters themselves.

That thought has now materialised into a nationwide initiative, which Justice Kant will officially leave in place before assuming charge as Chief Justice of India on November 24.

The scheme aims to solve a long-standing issue: personnel deployed in isolated regions often struggle to pursue legal cases involving land disputes, family conflicts or inheritance issues back in their hometowns.

A soldier stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, for instance, might find it nearly impossible to attend a court case in Tamil Nadu or Kerala.

To bridge this gap, NALSA will step in and ensure these cases are represented and followed through in courts across the country.

The scheme’s scope is not limited to the armed forces—it also covers paramilitary personnel serving in equally difficult terrains, including members of the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, and other central forces.