New Delhi: The Government of India launched the nationwide initiative Special Campaign 5.0 under the aegis of the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG). Within this framework, the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), under the Ministry of Law and Justice, undertook a systematic drive across all its divisions and attached offices and delivered 100% results.
Aim of Special Campaign 5.0: Cleanliness, efficiency, record-management and clearing pendencies in offices from 2 October to 31 October 2025, preceded by a preparatory phase in September.
The campaign emphasises the flagship vision of Swachhata Hi Seva—cleanliness as service—and aligns with India’s aspirational mission of a “Viksit Bharat @ 2047“.
Department of Legal Affairs: What the Numbers Say
Under the direct supervision of Law Secretary Dr. Anju Rathi Rana and guidance of Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, DLA has declared 100 % completion of all identified targets under Special Campaign 5.0.
Key achievements include:
- Physical files reviewed: 64,401; of those, 60,216 were identified for weeding and actually weeded.
- E-files reviewed: 714; closed: 311.
- Office space freed: 11,831 sq ft; revenue generated via disposal: ₹ 4,91,758.
- References / grievances cleared: 50 MP references, 6 state-govt refs, 27 inter-ministerial, 11 parliamentary assurances, 1 PMO reference, 879 public grievances, 10 PG appeals.
- E-waste / obsolete furniture disposal carried out through authorized recyclers per E‑Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Importance of Special Campaign 5.0 for Department of Legal Affairs
1. Clean & efficient governance: The review and weeding of over 60,000 physical files and digitisation of e-files helps create a leaner, faster administrative machine.
2. Space optimisation & revenue: Freeing up nearly 12,000 sq ft across offices means better utilisation of space, along with the ₹ 4.91 lakh generated from disposal of redundant assets.
3. Public service impact: Disposing of pending references—from MPs, States, PMO, public grievances—underlines responsiveness and citizen-centric governance.
4. Digital & sustainable push: The campaign combined physical cleanliness (swachhata) with digital practices (e-file closure, cyber awareness) and sustainable asset disposal (e-waste rules).
5. Institutional culture shift: Researchers note that such initiatives change mindset and build long-term habits of discipline, accountability and service orientation rather than one-time drives.
The Officer Behind the Campaign: Dr. Anju Rathi Rana
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, the Law Secretary of India, steered the DLA’s Special Campaign 5.0 with hands-on supervision. She reviewed weekly progress, inspected offices herself, and emphasised that cleanliness is more than tidiness—it is about discipline, efficiency and pride in public service.
Her quote:
> “The spirit of Swachhata goes beyond physical cleanliness — it represents discipline, efficiency and pride in public service.”
Under her guidance, the campaign extended to attached offices and litigation-sections across the nation, including branch secretariats in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and the sections of the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, CAT, ITAT etc.
Action Points of the Special Campaign 5.0
The DLA executed across key action-areas set by DARPG:
- File and record management: reviewing physical and e-records, digitising what’s needed, transferring to archives, weeding obsolete files.
- Disposal of waste & obsolete assets: identifying unserviceable IT equipment (computers, printers, UPS), redundant furniture, old fixtures; disposing via authorised recyclers under E-Waste Management Rules.
- Freeing office space & revenue from disposal: reclaimed floor-area and revenue from disposal of outdated assets.
- Clearing pendencies & grievances: dealing with references from MPs, State Governments, PMO, inter-ministerial, parliamentary assurances, public grievances & appeals.
- Awareness & cyber hygiene: on 30 Oct 2025, DLA held a Cyber Security Awareness Webinar under National Cyber Security Awareness Month, focusing on data protection, phishing, and safe digital practices.
Challenges & How They Were Tackled
Nation-wide coordination across offices: DLA’s network spanned its main Secretariat and branch offices in major cities plus attached bodies (IIAC, Law Commission, Indian Law Institute) and tribunals. Coordination was enabled by daily reviews and digital tracking via the SCDPM 5.0 portal.
Volume of records: Over 64,000 physical files required review and classification; systems for transfer to National Archives and weeding had to be flawless.
Asset disposal compliance: Ensuring e-waste and furniture disposal complied with rules, and generating revenue from scrap while maintaining environmental standards.
Pendency clearance: References from diverse sources required varied actions; tracking through CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress & Monitoring System) ensured closure.
Creating sustained culture: As opposed to one-off drives, the aim was institutional change; via leadership inspections and follow-up, the DLA sought to embed the ethos of cleanliness and efficiency in everyday work.
Long-Term Impact of Special Campaign 5.0 for Department of Legal Affairs
The DLA has signalled that this campaign isn’t merely an October event—it marks the start of ongoing transformation. Efforts will continue in:
- Digitisation of records and adoption of e-file systems for faster processing.
- Continual monitoring of refurbished office spaces and leaner workflows.
- Sustained e-waste and obsolete asset disposal as part of eco-friendly governance.
- Ongoing review of pendencies and grievances to ensure zero backlog.
- Cultivating a workplace culture where “cleanliness” symbolises smart governance and service-mindset.
- This aligns with the broader national goal of a “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” where governance is efficient, transparent and citizen-oriented.
