Lok Sabha Question No. 4272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Establishment of Gram Nyayalaya
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4272

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## Establishment of Gram Nyayalaya

## 4272.     SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  more  Gram  Nyayalayas  for  speedy disposal of the litigations, if so details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to provide more infrastructure and facilities for the functioning of Gram Nyayalayas, if so the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government has received request from the State Government of Kerala and  the  Registrar  General  of  its  High  Court  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  Gram Nyayalayas and amend the schedule of Gram Nyayalayas, if so the details thereof and response of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a)  &  (b):    The  Gram  Nyayalayas  Act,  2008  provides  for  the  establishment  of  Gram Nyayalayas at the grass roots level for the purposes of providing access to justice to the citizens at their doorsteps and ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other disabilities. In terms of Section 3 (1) of  the  Gram  Nyayalayas Act, 2008,   for the purpose  of exercising the jurisdiction and powers  conferred  on  a  Gram  Nyayalaya  by  this  Act,  the  State  Government,  after consultation  with  the  High  Court,  may,  by  notification,  establish  one  or  more  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  Gram  Panchayats.  The  Act therefore, does not make it mandatory for the States to establish Gram Nyayalayas. It is for  the  States  and  the  respective  High  Courts  to  decide  about  establishing  more  Gram Nyayalayas,  as  per  their  need  in  accordance  to  the  extant  provision  of  the  Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.

As per the extant guidelines, the Central Government provides one-time assistance to States towards non-recurring expenses for setting up of Gram Nyayalayas, subject to a ceiling  of  Rs.  18  lakhs  per  Gram  Nyayalaya.    The  Central  Government  also  provides assistance towards recurring expenses for operating these Gram Nyayalayas, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 3.20 lakhs per Gram Nyayalaya per year for the first three years.As on date, 15 States have  implemented  Gram  Nyayalayas  Scheme  by  notifying  488  Gram Nyayalayas,  out  of  which  313  are  functional  in  11  States  since  the  inception  of  the Scheme.

(c): The  High  Court  of  Kerala  has  made  certain  suggestions  for  extending  the jurisdiction of the Gram Nyayalayas and amending the relevant Schedule of the said Act. A decision is yet to be taken on these suggestions.

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