Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
NEWS ALERTS | Gram Nyayalayas scheme yet to get off the ground
Gram Nyayalayas scheme yet to get off the ground

Gram Nyayalayas scheme yet to get off the ground

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Apr 1, 2015   modified Modified on May 6, 2016
Is it the case that lack of Central financial assistance is restricting the growth of Gram Nyayalayas? Available Government documents and reports corroborate this doubt.  

Shri Kapil Sibal who was the Law and Justice Minister during the UPA rule while answering a question on 18 December, 2013 said that since the commencement of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, an amount of Rs. 3425.8 lakh was provided to the states as financial assistance till 30 November, 2013. Madhya Pradesh received the largest chunk of financial resources under the scheme to the tune of Rs. 1819 lakh due to which it saw the highest number of Gram Nyayalayas (89 in no.) getting operational there (See the link below).      

Similarly, Rajasthan ranked second among various states in terms of receiving financial assistance from the Centre. The state received Rs. 1146 lakh under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 till 30 November, 2013, and it had 45 functional Gram Nyayalayas by then.

On checking the position of Odisha and Maharashtra, it can be discerned that financial assistance from the Centre plays a crucial role in the establishment and growth of Gram Nyayalayas. For example, between 2009-10 and 2013-14, Maharashtra received financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 158 lakh from the Centre and the state saw establishment of 10 functional Gram Nyayalayas. Odisha received Rs. 126.4 lakh as financial assistance and witnessed establishment of 8 functional Gram Nyayalayas out of the notified 14 Gram Nyayalayas.

Karnataka, Goa, Punjab and Haryana received Rs. 25.2 lakh each under the Gram Nyayalaya Act, and each one of them witnessed notification of 2 Gram Nyayalayas, of which none was functional by 30 November, 2013.

It is worth noting that over the years, the amount given as financial assistance under the Gram Nyayalaya Act as a whole has declined. In 2009-10, states altogether received financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 1347.4 lakh under the scheme, which reduced to Rs. 476.8 lakh in 2013-14.

As per the latest available information, by the end of November 2013, 172 Gram Nyayalayas got notified in 9 states, out of which only 152 Gram Nyayalayas could become functional. It can, thus, be said that Gram Nyayalayas were getting established at a snail's pace.   

Prior to Shri Kapil Sibal when Shri Salman Khurshid was the Law and Justice Minister under the UPA, it was said by the latter on 03 September 2012 in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that 166 Gram Nyayalayas were notified by six states, of which 151 Gram Nyayalayas started functioning since the Gram Nyayalaya Act came into force with effect from 2nd October, 2009. This means that only one additional Gram Nyayalaya started functioning between 3 September 2012 and 30 November 2013 (see the links below).

Government documents indicate that in terms of Section 3 (1) of the Act, it is for the states to establish Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. Most states to which the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 extends, have supported the setting up of Gram Nyayalayas. But a number of states have either requested for higher central financial assistance while indicating their willingness to establish Gram Nyayalayas or conveyed their disinclination. While Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan are among states which have demanded higher amount, states/ UTs of Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh and Lakshdweep have, for different reasons, not felt the need to set up Gram Nyayalayas.

References:

Reply by Kapil Sibal in the Lok Sabha, 18 December 2013 

Reply by Salman Khurshid in the Lok Sabha, 3 September 2012
 
Press note on Gram Nyayalaya Act 2008 by Ministry of Law & Justice, 29 September, 2009

Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008 

Gram nyayalayas and the hazards of informal justice-Dr Sudhir Krishnaswamy, The Sunday Guardian   

Where are rural courts-Jitendra, Down to Earth, 30 June, 2014

151 Gram Nyayalayas Start Functioning, Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Law and Justice, 3 September, 2012

Serving the justice needs of the poor-NR Madhava Menon, The Hindu, 3 December, 2013

Judicial delay may become a thing of the past -NR Madhava Menon, The Hindu, 26 October, 2011

Government Fails to Set up Village Courts in the State -Toby Antony, The New Indian Express, 1 December, 2014

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close