Sign In
Learn bits
Polity & Governance
Mahesh

17/11/22 13:57 PM IST

SC issues notice to high courts on plea for setting up of ‘Gram Nyayalayas’

In News 
  • The Supreme Court recently asked all high courts to respond to a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre and states to take measures to set up ‘Gram Nyayalayas’.
About GNs 
  • GN came by Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008 on the recommendation of the 114th Report of the Law Commission.
  • Establishment of GNs at the Panchayat level to try criminal, and civil claims and disputes.
  • GNs will be headed by ‘Nyayadhikari’ ( will be appointed by the state government in consultation with the high court).
  • It shall be guided by the principle of natural justice ( and not bound by rules of evidence provided in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872)
  • The seat of the Gram Nyayalaya will be located at the headquarters of the intermediate Panchayat; they will go to villages, work there and dispose of the cases.
  • Gram Nyayalayas have both civil and criminal jurisdiction over the offences.
  • They can try criminal offences specified in the First Schedule and civil suits specified in Second Schedule to the Act.
  • The Central as well as the State Governments have been given the power to amend the First Schedule and the Second Schedule of the Act.
  • The pecuniary jurisdiction of the Nyayalayas is fixed by the respective High Courts.
Why Gram Nyayalayas not operational? 
  • Lack of infrastructure like buildings, office spaces and related equipment
  • Lack of man-power resources, notaries, stamp vendors etc. at sub-district level
  • Inadequate Central assistance
  • Lack of awareness among lawyers, police officials
  • Non-cooperation of enforcement agencies
  • The reluctance of state functionaries to invoke the jurisdiction of Gram Nyayalayas
  • Setting up of legal services institutions at Taluk level reducing the dependency on Gram Nyayalayas
Source- The Tribune 

More Related Current Affairs View All

05 May

Key objectives of caste count

'The Union Cabinet has decided that the next Census will include questions on caste to its enumeration of India’s population, for the first time in almost a century. ' T

Read More

05 May

2 new genome-edited rice varieties

'Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently released two genome-edited varieties of rice, the first achievement of its kind in the country.' These two varieties, which

Read More

05 Mar

First-ever comprehensive survey of India’s river dolphins

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the results of the first-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins – Gangetic and Indus dolphins – done in In

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps