Context:
Supreme Court directs States/UTs and their High Courts to file status report on Gram Nyayalayas.
Gram Nyayalayas:
- Aim – To provide access, affordable and quick justice to the citizens at their door steps and de-clog local courts.
- Statutory body under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.
- Act exempts States of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and to the tribal areas specified in the Act.
- Seat of gram nyayalayas is located at the headquarters of the intermediate Panchayat
- Status: Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class.
- State government appoints ‘Nyayadhikari’ for each Gram Nyayalaya in consultation with the high court.
- Jurisdiction: Shall be a mobile court and both civil and criminal jurisdiction to settle petty disputes at the village level.
- Dispute Process: Disputes are to be settled with the help of conciliation between the parties.
- These are not bound by the rules of evidence provided in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam)but by Principles of Natural Justice.
- Appeals: Appeal in criminal cases lie to the Court of Session and in civil cases lie to the district court, shall be disposed within 6 months from the date of filing an appeal.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to the Finance Commission of India, which of the following statements is correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2011 Prelims]
(a) It encourages the inflow of foreign capital for infrastructure development
(b) It facilitates the proper distribution of finances among the Public Sector Undertakings
(c) It ensures transparency in financial administration
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
Answer: (d)
