Question : LOK ADALATS AND GRAM NYAYATAYAS

(a) the number of districts in Uttar Pradesh where Lok Adalats and Gram Nyayalayas have been operati- onalised/ functioning;

(b) the steps taken/ being taken to organise/set up these courts in the remaining districts;

(c) whether the volunteers have been appointed in these courts and if so, the total number thereof along with the honorarium paid to them during each of the last three years and the current year;

(d) whether some of these volunteers have not been paid honorarium for a long period and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/ being taken by the Government for timely payment of honorarium to them?

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

(a) & (b) The Lok Adalats are organized under section 19 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 by State Legal Services Authorities / District Legal Services Authorities/ Taluk Legal Services Committees from time to time weekly/ monthly and on special occasion. Apart from these regular and Special Lok Adalats, there are also Permanent Lok Adalats set up for settlement of cases under section 22 B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Lok Adalats are regularly being organized in the districts of Uttar Pradesh.

In terms of Section 3(1) of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, it is for the State Governments to establish Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. A total number of 12 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified in Uttar Pradesh. However, no gram Nyayalaya is functional.

(c) to (e) Lok Adalats are not Courts. They constitute an Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism. Since, no Gram Nayayalaya is functional in Uttar Pradesh, the question of appointment of volunteer and payment of honorarium to them does not arise.