Last Updated on March 28, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Gram Nyayalayas are still not functional in Jammu and Kashmir despite the fact that act was applicable from more than two years. Gram Nyayalayas are closer to people and much easily accessible for speedy disposal of cases in rural areas. Act came into effect in country in 2009 and to J&K it came into effect after abrogation of article 370.
In the year 2020, the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of J&K UT mentioned that the headquarters identified for the Dehi Adalats shall be deemed to be the headquarters of the Gram Nyayalayas. During 2021, in month of January the Chief Justice of Common High Court of J&K and Ladakh framed a panel to look into the functioning of the Gram Nyayalayas within the jurisdictional limit of the High Court.
But even after so much time Gram Nyayalayas have not been made functional and this was highlighted recently by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its report tabled in the Parliament.
Parliamentary Panel highlighted that despite of the fact that J&K has notified 20 Gram Nyayalayas—one for each district, none of them has been made functional yet. Standing committee suggested that both Union and J&K government should look into the matter seriously.
Parliamentary Panel said that the inordinate delay in making village courts functional is notwithstanding the fact that Department of Justice of the Government of India is repeatedly requesting the UT administration to take action on this front.
