ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) : To provide access to justice to the citizen at their door steps, the Central Government has enacted the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008. It provides for establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at intermediate panchayat level. The State Governments are responsible for establishing Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. As per information made available by State Governments / High Courts, 343 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified so far by 11 States. Out of these, 210 are operational in 9 States at present. State-wise details of the Gram Nyayalayas notified and operationalised by the State Governments are as under:
Sl. No. State Gram Nyayalayas Notified Gram Nyayalayas Functional
1 M P 89 89
2 Rajasthan 45 45
3 Karnataka 2 0
4 Odisha 22 14
5 Maharashtra 39 24
6 Jharkhand 6 1
7 Goa 2 0
8 Punjab 2 1
9 Haryana 2 2
10 UP 104 4
11 Kerala 30 30
Total 343
210
Civil and criminal cases pending before District / Session Courts or courts subordinate to them falling within the jurisdiction of the Gram Nyayalayas can be transferred to Gram Nyayalayas.
The Central Government has been encouraging the States to set up Gram Nyayalayas by providing financial assistance. As per the scheme for assistance to State Governments for establishing and operating Gram Nyayalayas, 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. 18.00 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. The State-wise details of financial assistance provided so far to State Governments for setting up of Gram Nyayalayas are as under:-
(Rs. in lakhs)
Sl. No. Name of the State Financial Assistance sanctioned
1 Madhya Pradesh 1,819.00
2 Rajasthan 1,240.98
3 Karnataka 25.20
4 Odisha 337.40
5 Maharashtra 337.8
6 Jharkhand 75.60
7 Goa 25.20
8 Punjab 25.20
9 Haryana 25.20
10 Uttar Pradesh 1323.2
11 Kerala 474
Total 5,708.78
The issues affecting operationalization of the Gram Nyayalayas were discussed in the Conference of Chief Justices of High Courts and Chief Ministers of the States on 7th April, 2013. It was decided in the Conference that the State Governments and High Courts should decide the question of setting up of Gram Nyayalayas wherever feasible, taking into account the local issues and situation.
The Central Government has requested the Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of High Courts for setting up of Gram Nyayalayas in the respective States. Recently, the Registrars General of High Courts and Law / Home / Finance Secretaries of States were requested through video conferences held in January, 2018 and July, 2018, to set up Gram Nyayalayas and seek financial assistance for operationalising them under the Scheme mentioned above.
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