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    Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms

    Last updated: 16-10-2023

    A Plan Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms is being implemented by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms since 2013. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is being extended for undertaking action research / evaluation / monitoring studies, organizing seminars / conferences / workshops, capacity building for research and monitoring activities, publication of report/material, promotion of innovative programmes / activities in the areas of Justice Delivery, Legal Research and Judicial Reforms. From the financial year 2021-22 onwards, the Scheme was incorporated under the “non-scheme” component of Department of Justice.

    Reputed institutions working in the field of justice delivery, legal education and research and judicial reforms may apply as per the Scheme guidelines. The Guidelines prescribed format and other details about the Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms can be accessed below :

    Scope of Scheme

    – A Plan Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms is being implemented by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms since 2013. Under the Scheme, financial assistance is being extended for undertaking action research / evaluation / monitoring studies, organizing seminars / conferences / workshops, capacity building for research and monitoring activities, publication of report/material, promotion of innovative programmes / activities in the areas of Justice Delivery, Legal Research and Judicial Reforms. From the financial year 2021-22 onwards, the Scheme was incorporated under the “non-scheme” component of Department of Justice.

    Eligible Implementing Authorities

    – The eligible implementing authorities for the Scheme are Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Indian Institute(s) of Management (IIMs), Indian Law Institute (ILI), National Law Universities (NLUs), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), National Judicial Academy (NJA), State Judicial Academies (SJAs) and other reputed institutions working in the field of justice delivery, legal education and research and judicial reforms.

    Guidelines

    PDF: Click Here

    – Under the Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms, financial assistance shall be extended for undertaking action research/evaluation/monitoring studies, organizing seminars/conferences/workshops, capacity building for research and monitoring activities, publication of report/ material, promotion of innovative programmes/activities in the areas of Justice Delivery, Legal Research and Judicial Reforms.

    Objectives:

    The objectives of the scheme are to promote research and studies on the issues related to the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms being implemented by the Department of Justice.

    Projects/Activities eligible for financial assistance:

    Financial assistance shall be given to the eligible implementing agencies by the Department of Justice for the following projects/activities in the fields of Justice Delivery, Legal Research and Judicial Reforms:

    • To undertake action research I evaluation studies.
    • To organise seminars I workshops/ conferences.
    • To undertake capacity building activity for research and monitoring activities.
    • To undertake publication of report/material.
    • To undertake promotion of innovative programmes/activities.
    • To undertake any other project/activity for the promotion of issues related to the National Mission to be decided by the Project Sanctioning Committee.

    Eligible Implementing agencies

    Indian Institute of Public Administration, Administrative Staff College of India, Indian lnstitute/s of Management, Indian Law Institute, National Law Universities, National Council of Applied Economic Research, National Judicial Academy, State Judicial Academies and other reputed institutions working in the field of justice delivery, legal education and research and judicial reforms.

    The Project Sanctioning Committee shall be empowered to allow any Government or Government aided Institute/Organisation as eligible implementing agency, if found suitable for undertaking project/activity permissible under the scheme.

    Pattern of Assistance

    Financial assistance shall be given, on agreed terms and conditions, to the eligible implementing agency on the basis of Project Proposal submitted by such agency indicating the project cost.

    The financial assistance may be given in instalments and at least 10% of the project cost may be kept for payment as final instalment on acceptance of the final project report by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice.

    The financial assistance would be limited to actual expenditure incurred by the grantee institution, subject to overall ceiling of Rs.25.00 lakhs.ln exceptional cases, however, where the scope of the Project is sufficiently wide, sample size is large and Project is for longer duration, the Project Sanctioning Committee may relax this ceiling.

    Project Proposal

    The project proposal shall be invited by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice from the selected implementing agencies for identified subjects which shall include following informationas terms and conditions of the project:

    • Title of the project
    • Name of the implementing agency
    • Details of Principal Coordinator (Name, Designation and Research Experience)
    • Objectives
    • Methodology
    • Duration (with specific timelines for initiation of project, submission of interim progress report, presentation before submission of final report and submission of final report)
    • Project cost with detailed break up:

    Project Sanctioning Committee

    All project proposals shall be placed before the Project Sanctioning Committee for consideration and approval. The composition of the Project Sanctioning Committee shall be asunder:

    Secretary, Department of Justice – Chairman
    Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, DoJ – Member
    Secretary General, Supreme Court – Member
    Joint Secretary and Mission Director, DoJ – Member
    Joint Secretary, Law Commission of India – Member
    Director, lndian Law Institute – Member
    Director, National Judicial Academy – Member
    Director/Deputy Secretary (National Mission), DoJ – Member Secretary

    While considering the proposals from Indian Law Institute (ILI) and National Judicial Academy (NJA) , the Directorsof the concerned Institute / Academy shall recuse from deliberations of Project Sanctioning Committee in respect of their proposals.

    Procedure for Approval of the Project

    The invited Proposals from the selected institutes/organisations on the identified subjects shall be placed before Project Sanctioning Committee for consideration and approval. The decision of Project Sanctioning Committee shall be final and binding. The approved Project Proposals shall then be submitted to the Integrated Finance Division of Ministry of Law and Justice for approving the project/s and release of funds. Each instalment shall be released on the approval of IntegratedFinance Division.

    Utilisation Certificate

    The implementing agency shall be required to submit Utilisation Certificate, as prescribed by the Department of Justice, for the funds received from the Department of Justice for undertaking the project.

    Dispute Redressal

    Any dispute relating to any project shall be decided by the Secretary(Justice) and MissionLeader, National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice, which shall be binding on the implementing agency.

    (Sd/-) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

    List of Action Research Topics

    PDf – Click Here (PDF 510KB) (Published Date: 16.10.2023)

    Project Sanctioning Committee

    Project Sanctioning Committee headed by Secretary (Justice) considers the project proposals and approves the research projects. Project Sanctioning Committee consists of members from Supreme Court, Indian Law Institute, National Judicial Academy, Law Commission of India and Internal Finance Department. Rs.25.00 lakh is the maximum limit of the project cost.

    Minutes of Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC)

    Implementation

    Year Number of Proposals RECEIVED by Department of Justice Proposals accepted by Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC)
    2013 Scheme Launched Scheme Launched
    2014 10 3
    2015 23 11
    2016 11 4
    2017 21 4
    2018 33 12
    2019 51 8
    2020 17 2
    2021 15 5
    Total 181 49

    Total Number of Projects completed and accepted (till 15.01.2022): 38

    List of Ongoing projects

    S.No Agency Project Title
    1 Delhi Judicial Academy To identify the Reasons for delay in disposal of cases and evaluate Capacity gap to manage the pendency of cases in District & Subordinate Courts of Delhi
    2 National Law University, Delhi Empirical study to evaluate the delivery of justice through improved infrastructure
    3 National Law University, Delhi A Field Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Access to Justice for Under Trials in Selective Prisons in the Specific States
    4 Chanakya National Law University, patna Impact Assessment of Commercial Courts Act, 2015 with reference to Commercial litigations pending in State of Bihar & Jharkhand
    5 Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad Challenges and Solutions in establishing functional family courts in different States
    6 Daksh Bengaluru Ideation and Implementation of the Phase III of the eCourts Mission Mode Project
    7 National Law University Delhi The Commercial Court Guide (India) 2021
    8 M/s. Market Xcel Data Matrix Ltd. Study on Rule of Law Index
    9 University School of Law and Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi Access to Justice through Plea Bargaining as an alternative model to traditional Criminal Trial in India: A case study of select Indian States
    10 Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla Role of Pro-bono Lawyering in Ensuring Access to Justice: A Study with Special Reference to State of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Union Territory of Chandigarh and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
    11 Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh A Study on Functioning of Commercial Courts in the Southern Region of India for Improving Ease of Doing Business