Lok Sabha Question No. 538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Gram Nyayalayas
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Bhagirath Chaudhary, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Devji Mansingram Patel, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No †538 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 04 TH   FEBRUARY, 2022

Gram Nyayalayas

†538.  SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  cases  pending  in  High  courts  and  Lower  courts  across  the country;
- (b) whether setting up of Gram Nyayalayas (rural courts) at the Panchayat level comparatively  will  decrease  the  number  of  such  pending  cases,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  Gram  Nyayalayas  at  the Panchayat level and empower them to hear cases of limited nature;
- (d) if so, the time by which the said Gram Nyayalayas are likely to be set up; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a): As per information available on the web-portal of National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) the number of cases pending in High courts and Lower courts across the country as on 19.01.2022 is as under:

|                                 | Civil Cases   | Criminal Cases   | Total       |
|---------------------------------|---------------|------------------|-------------|
| High Courts                     | 40,95,419     | 15,64,601        | 56,60,020   |
| District and Subordinate Courts | 1,07,23,895   | 2,95,39,122      | 4,02,63,017 |

(b) to (e): To provide access to justice to the citizen at their door steps, the Central Government has enacted the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.  In terms of Section 3 (1) of the Gram  Nyayalayas  Act,  2008,  the State Governments are  responsible for establishing Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. However, the Act does not make setting up of Gram Nyayalayas mandatory. The Gram  Nyayalayas  Act  provides  for  establishment  of  Gram  Nyayalayas  for  every Panchayat at intermediate level or a group of contiguous Panchayats at intermediate level in a district or where there is no Panchayat at intermediate level in any State, for a group of contiguous group Panchayats. Gram Nyayalayas are deemed to be a Court  of  Judicial  Magistrate  of  First  Class  with  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  as provided  in  the  Schedule  to  the  Act.  Central  Government  and  State  Government have the power to add or omit any item in such Schedules.

As per the information made  available by the various State Governments / High Courts there are 476 Gram Nyayalayas notified in 15 States/UTs, out of which 276 are operational in 10 States and as per data uploaded on the Gram Nyayalaya Portal  41,108  cases  (including  39,746  criminal  cases)  were  disposed  of  in  these Gram Nyayalayas from January to December 2021.

The  issues  affecting  the  implementation  of  the  Gram  Nyayalayas  scheme were  discussed  in  the  Conference  of  Chief  Justices  of  High  Courts  and  Chief Ministers of the States on 7 th April, 2013. It was decided in the Conference that the State Governments and High Courts should decide the question of establishment of

Gram Nyayalayas wherever feasible, taking into account their local problems with focus on covering those Talukas under the Gram Nyayalaya scheme where regular courts have not been set up.

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