Department of Legal Affairs Digitally Transforms Legal Payments with PFMS Integration — Moves Towards Fully Paperless System

Department of Legal Affairs Digitally Transforms Legal Payments with PFMS Integration — Moves Towards Fully Paperless System

Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) under the Ministry of Law and Justice has successfully integrated the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

This marks a significant milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts under Special Campaign 5.0 to improve efficiency, transparency, and speed in administrative processes.

The integration enables complete digitisation of advocate fee disbursal, removing the long-standing reliance on manual paperwork and physical file movement. Previously, fee payments to law officers and panel advocates required multiple levels of physical verification and the submission of hard copies to the Pay & Accounts Office, often resulting in delays. Now, with the enhanced e-Bill module, the entire process — from bill generation to payment — happens electronically.

Every claim raised through LIMBS generates a unique Claim Reference Number (CRN), allowing real-time tracking. Once verified and digitally signed by the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), payments are directly released to the advocate’s bank account through PFMS. This paperless system not only ensures faster and error-free processing but also brings greater transparency and accountability to financial transactions within the government’s legal framework.

The Central Agency Section (CAS) of the Department of Legal Affairs first implemented the e-Bill module for panel advocate payments in February 2025. Building on its success, the Department is now preparing to extend the e-Bill system to other litigation units, including the Delhi High Court. Plans are also underway to develop a Retainer Fee Module within LIMBS to streamline periodic payments to Law Officers.

This initiative strengthens the government’s vision of “Ease of Doing Business” and supports the Digital India mission by standardising legal fee payments and promoting environmental sustainability through reduced paper use. It also directly contributes to the goals of Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on simplification, transparency, and citizen-centric service delivery.

By modernizing its workflow from paper-based to an end-to-end digital payment system, the Department of Legal Affairs is setting a benchmark for digital governance and administrative efficiency, reinforcing its commitment to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.