Rajya Sabha Passes Gram Nyayalaya Bill
The upper house of Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha passed the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2008 on December 17. The clearance of the Bill will lead to the setting up of 5,067 courts at the block level. With the setting up of these courts, the villagers of the country will be able to get quick and inexpensive justice. Under a provision of the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, mobile courts will be held at different villages and the proceedings of the mobile courts will be conducted by the Nyaya Adhikari (Judicial Magistrate First Class) periodically.
Gram Nyayalayas or the village courts will try criminal cases, civil suits, claims or disputes concerning all the offences not punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years. The cases of theft and stolen property will also be tried at the Gram Nyayalayas. Report says that the states will be assisted by the centre with Rs 320 crore to set up the courts at the block level within the respective jurisdiction.
The states will appoint the Nyaya Adhikaris of the village courts in consultation with the high courts. The newly passed Bill said that an appeal from the judgment of the Gram Nyaylaya will lie with the sessions court which will be heard and disposed of within six months from the date of filing of the appeal. Speaking about the new bill, law and justice minister H R Bhardwaj said that after setting the village courts the villagers will get justice in quick time and inexpensively.
