Gram Nyayalayas Bill extends to all India except Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim…

This Bill proposes to establish Gram Nyayalayas (village courts) at the grassroots level to provide citizens with access to justice at their doorstep. It aims to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to social, economic, or other disabilities.

The Bill affects citizens residing in rural areas (specifically within Panchayats at the intermediate level or groups of contiguous Gram Panchayats) who are parties to civil or criminal disputes. It also applies to State Governments, High Courts, and the Central Government regarding the establishment, administration, and jurisdiction of these courts. It excludes the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and specified tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

• Establishment of Gram Nyayalayas by State Governments in consultation with High Courts for every Panchayat at intermediate level or group of contiguous Gram Panchayats.
• Appointment of a Nyayadhikari (presiding officer) who must be eligible to be appointed as a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, with representation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.
• Jurisdiction to try both civil and criminal cases specified in the Schedules of the Act, with pecuniary limits for civil cases specified by the High Court.
• Requirement for Nyayadhikaris to hold mobile courts and conduct proceedings in villages close to where parties reside or where the cause of action arose.
• Provision for plea bargaining in criminal cases and mandatory efforts for conciliation and settlement in civil disputes.
• Appeals from Gram Nyayalaya decisions lie to the District Court (for criminal) or the Court of Session (for civil).
• Proceedings must be conducted in the official language of the State.

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