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THE GRAM NYAYALAYAS ACT, 2008
NO. 4 OF 2009
The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 7th January, 2009, and is hereby published for general information:-
An Act to provide for the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at the grass roots level for the purposes of providing access to justice to the citizens at their doorsteps and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other disabilities and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title, extent and commencement
1. (1) This Act may be called the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the State of Nagaland, the State of Arunachal Pradesh, and the State of Sikkim and to the tribal areas.
Explanation—In this sub-section, the expression “tribal areas” means the areas specified in Parts I, II, IIA and III of the Table below paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution within the State of Assam, the State of Meghalaya, the State of Tripura and the State of Mizoram, respectively.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification published in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different States.
Definitions
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) “Gram Nyayalaya” means a court established under sub-section (1) of section 3;
(b) “Gram Panchayat” means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government constituted, at the village level, under article 243B of the Constitution, for the rural areas;
(c) “High Court” means,--
(i) in relation to any State, the High Court for that State;
(ii) in relation to a Union territory to which the jurisdiction of the High Court for a State has been extended by law, that High Court;
(iii) in relation to any other Union territory, the highest Court of criminal appeal for that territory other than the Supreme Court of India;
(d) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
(e) “Nyayadhikari” means the presiding officer of a Gram Nyayalaya appointed under section 5;
(f) “Panchayat at intermediate level” means an institution (by whatever name called) of self-government constituted, at the intermediate level, under article 243Bof the Constitution, for the rural areas in accordance with the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act;
(i) “State Government”, in relation to a Union territory, means the administrator thereof appointed under article 239 of the Constitution;
(j) words and expressions used herein and not defined in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Codes.
CHAPTER II
GRAM NYAYALAYA
Establishment of Gram Nyayalayas
3. (1) For the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction and powers conferred on a Gram Nyayalaya by this Act, the State Government, after consultation with the High Court, may, by notification, establish one or more Gram Nyayalayas for every Panchayat at intermediate level or a group of contiguous Panchayats at intermediate level in a district or where there is no panchayat at intermediate level in any State, for a group of contiguous Gram Panchayats.
(2) The State Government shall, after consultation with the High Court, specify, by notification, the local limits of the area to which the jurisdiction of a Gram Nyayalaya shall extend and may, at any time, increase, reduce or alter such limits.
(3) The Gram Nyayalayas established under sub-section (1) shall be in addition to the courts established under any other law for the time being in force.
Headquarters of Gram Nyayalaya
4. The headquarters of every Gram Nyayalaya shall be located at the headquarters of the intermediate Panchayat in which the Gram Nyayalaya is established or such other place as may be notified by the State Government.
Appointment of Nyayadhikari
5. The State Government shall, in consultation with the High Court, appoint a Nyayadhikari for every Gram Nyayalaya.
Qualifications for appointment of Nyayadhikari
6. (1) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed as a Nyayadhikari unless he is eligible to be appointed as a Judicial Magistrate of the first class.
(2) While appointing a Nyayadhikari, representation shall be given to the members of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, women and such other classes or communities as may be specified by notification, by the State Government from time to time.
Salary allowances and other terms and conditions of service of Nyayadhikari
7. The salary and other allowances payable to, and to the other terms and conditions of service of, a Nyayadikari shall be such as may be applicable to the Judicial Magistrate of the first class.
Nyayadhikari not to preside over proceedings in which he is interested
8. The Nyayadhikari shall not preside over the proceedings of a Gram Nyayalaya in which he has any interest or is otherwise involved in the subject matter of the dispute or is related to any party to such proceedings and in such a case, the Nyayadhikari shall refer the matter to the District Court or the Court of Session, as the case may be, for transferring it to any other Nyayadhkari.
Nyayadhikari to hold mobile courts and conduct proceedings in villages
9. (1) The Nyayadhikari shall periodically visit the villages falling under his jurisdiction and conduct trial or proceedings at any place which he considers is in close proximity to the place where the parties ordinarily reside or where the whole or part of the cause of action has arisen:
Provided that where the Gram Nyayalaya decides to hold mobile court outside its headquarters, it shall give wide publicity as to the date and place where it proposes to hold mobile court.
(2) The State Government shall extend all facilities to the Gram Nyayalaya including the provision of vehicles for holding mobile court by the Nyayadhikari while conducting trial or proceedings outside its headquarters.
Seal of Gram Nyayalaya
10. Every Gram Nyayalaya established under this Act shall use a seal of the court in such form and dimensions as may be prescribed by the High Court with the approval of the State Government.
CHAPTER III
JURISDICTION, POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF GRAM NYAYALAYA
Jurisdiction of Gram Nyayalaya
11. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or any other law for the time being in force, the Gram Nyayalaya shall exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction in the manner and to the extent provided under this Act.
Criminal jurisdiction
12. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or any other law for the time being in force, the Gram Nyayalaya may take cognizance of an offence on a complaint or on a police report and shall—
(a) try all offences specified in Part I of the First Schedule; and
(b) try all offences and grant relief, if any, specified under the enactments included in Part II of that Schedule.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Gram Nyayalaya shall also try all such offences or grant such relief under the State Acts which may be notified by the State Government under sub-section (3) of section 14.
Civil jurisdiction
13. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or any other law for the time being in force, and subject to sub-section (2), the Gram Nyayalaya shall have jurisdiction to—
(a) try all suits or proceedings of a civil nature falling under the classes of disputes specified in Part I of the Second Schedule;
(b) try all classes of claims and disputes which may be notified by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 14 and by the State Government under sub-section (3) of the said section.
(2) The pecuniary limits of the Gram Nyayalaya shall be such as may be specified by the High Court, in consultation with the State Government, by notification, from time to time.
Power to amend Schedules
14. (1) Where the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by notification, add to or omit any item in Part I or Part II of the First Schedule or Part II of the Second Schedule, as the case may be, and it shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly.
(2) Every notification issued under sub-section (1) shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
(3) If the State Government is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, in consultation with the High Court, by notification, add to any item in Part III of the First Schedule or Part III of the Second Schedule or omit from it any item in respect of which the State Legislature is competent to make laws and there upon the First Schedule or the Second Schedule, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly.
(4) Every notification issued under sub-section (3) shall be laid before the State Legislature.
Limitation
15. (1) The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 shall be applicable to the suits triable by the Gram Nyayalaya.
(2) The provisions of Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall be applicable in respect of the offences triable by the Gram Nyayalaya.
Transfer of pending proceedings
16. (1) The District Court or the Court of Session, as the case may be, with effect from such date as may be notified by the High Court, may transfer all the civil or criminal cases, pending before the Court subordinate to it, to the Gram Nyayalaya competent to try or dispose of such cases.
(2) The Gram Nyayalaya may, in its discretion, either retry the cases or proceed from the stage at which it was transferred to it.
Duties of ministerial officers
17. (1) The State Government shall determine the nature and categories of the officers and other employees required to assist a Gram Nyayalaya in the discharge of its functions and provide the Gram Nyayalaya with such officers and other employees as it may think fit.
(2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and other conditions of service of, the officers and other employees of the Gram Nyayalaya shall be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.
(3) The officers and other employees of a Gram Nyayalaya shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Nyadhikari.
CHAPTER IV
PROCEUDRE IN CRIMINAL CASES
Overriding effect of Act in criminal trial
18. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or any other law, but save as expressly provided in this Act, the provisions of the Code shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, apply to the proceedings before a Gram Nyayalaya, and for the purpose of the said provisions of the Code, the Gram Nyayalaya shall be deemed to be Court of Judicial Magistrate of the first class.
Gram Nyayalaya to follow summary trial procedure
19. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) of section 260 or sub-section (2) of section 262 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Gram Nyayalaya shall try the offences in a summary way in accordance with the procedure specified in Chapter XXI of the said Code and the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 262 and sections 263 to 265 of the said Code, shall, so far as may be, apply to such trial.
(2) When, in the course of a summary trial, it appears to the Nyayadhikari that the nature of the case is such that it is undesirable to try it summarily, the Nyayadhikari shall recall any witness who may have been examined and proceed to re-hear the case in the manner provided under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Plea bargaining before Gram Nyayalaya
20. A person accused of an offence may file an application for plea bargaining in Gram Nyayalaya in which such offence is pending trial and the Gram Nyayalaya shall dispose of the case in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XXIA of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Conduct of cases in Gram Nyayalayas and legal aid to parties
21. (1) For the purpose of conducting criminal cases in the Gram Nyayalaya on behalf of the Government, the provisions of section 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall apply.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), in a criminal proceeding before the Gram Nyayalaya, the complainant may engage an advocate of his choice at his expense to present the case of prosecution with the leave of the Gram Nyayalaya.
(3) The State Legal Services Authority, constituted under section 6 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, shall prepare a panel of advocates and assign at least two of them to be attached to each Gram Nyayalaya so that their services may be provided by the Gram Nyayalaya to the accused unable to engage an advocate.
Pronouncement of judgment
22. (1) The judgment in every trial shall be pronounced by the Nyayadhikari in open court immediately after the termination of the trial or at any subsequent time, not exceeding fifteen days, of which notice shall be given to the parties.
(2) The Gram Nyayalaya shall deliver a copy of its judgment immediately to both the parties free of cost.
CHAPTER V
PROCEDURE IN CIVIL CASES
Overriding effect of Act in Civil proceedings
18. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or any other law, but save as expressly provided in this Act, the provisions of the Code shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, apply to the proceedings before a Gram Nyayalaya, and for the purpose of the said provisions of the Code, the Gram Nyayalaya shall be deemed to be Civil Court.
Special procedure in civil disputes
24. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every suit, claim or dispute under this Act shall be instituted by making an application to the Gram Nyayalaya in such form, in such manner, and accompanied by such fee, not exceeding rupees one hundred, as may be prescribed by the High Court, from time to time, in consultation with the State Government.
(2) Where a suit, claim or dispute has been duly instituted, a summons shall be issued by the Gram Nyayalaya, accompanied by a copy of the application made under sub-section (1), to the opposite party to appear and answer the claim by such date as may be specified therein and the same shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed by the High Court.
(3) After the opposite party files his written statement, the Gram Nyayalaya shall fix a date for hearing and inform all the parties to be present in person or through their advocates.
(4) On the date fixed for hearing, the Gram Nyayalaya shall hear both the parties in regard to their respective contentions and where the dispute does not require recording of any evidence, pronounce the judgment; and in case where it requires recording of evidence, the Gram Nyayalaya shall proceed further.
(5) The Gram Nyayalaya shall also have the power,--
(a) to dismiss any case for default or to proceed ex parte; and
(b) to set aside any such order of dismissal for default or any order passed by it for hearing the case ex parte.
(6) In regard to any incidental matter that may arise during the course of the proceedings, the Gram Nyayalaya shall adopt such procedure as it may deem just and reasonable in the interest of justice.
(7) The proceedings shall, as far as practicable, be consistent with the interests of justice and the hearing shall be continued on a day-to-day basis until its conclusion, unless the Gram Nyayalaya finds the adjournment of the hearing beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(8) The Gram Nyayalaya shall dispose of the application made under sub-section (1) within a period of six months from the date of its institution.
(9) The judgment in every suit, claim or dispute shall be pronounced in open court by the Gram Nyayalaya immediately after conclusion of hearing or at any subsequent time, not exceeding fifteen days, of which notice shall be given to the parties.
(10) The judgment shall contain a concise statement of the case, the point for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for such decision.
(11) A copy of the judgment shall be delivered free of cost to both the parties within three days from the date of pronouncement of the judgment.
Execution of decrees and orders of Gram Nyayalaya
25. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the judgment passed by a Gram Nyayalaya shall be deemed to be a decree and it shall be executed by a Gram Nyayalaya as a decree of the Civil Court and for this purpose, the Gram Nyayalaya shall have all the powers of a Civil Court.
(2) The Gram Nyayalaya shall not be bound by the procedure in respect of execution of a decree as provided in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and it shall be guided by the principles of natural justice.
(3) A decree may be executed either by the Gram Nyayalaya which passed it or by the other Gram Nyayalaya to which it is sent for execution.
Duty of Gram Nyayalaya to make efforts for conciliation and settlement of civil disputes
26. (1) In every suit or proceeding, endeavour shall be made by the Gram Nyayalaya in first instance, where it is possible to do so, consistent with the nature and circumstances of the case, to assist, persuade and conciliate the parties in arriving at a settlement in respect of the subject matter of the suit, claim dispute and for this purpose, a Gram Nyayalaya shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed by the High Court.
(2) Where in any suit or proceeding, it appears to the Gram Nyayalaya at any stage that there is a reasonable possibility of a settlement between the parties, the Gram Nyayalaya may adjourn the proceeding for such period as it thinks fit to enable them to make attempts to effect such a settlement.
(3) Where any proceeding is adjourned under sub-section (2), the Gram Nyayalaya may, in its discretion, refer the matter to one or more Conciliators for effecting a settlement between the parties.
(4) The powers conferred by sub-section (2) shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other power of the Gram Nyayalaya to adjourn the proceeding.
Appointment of Conciliators
27. (1) For the purposes of section 26, the District Court shall, in consultation with the District Magistrate, prepare a panel consisting of the names of social workers at the village level having integrity for appointment as Conciliators who possess such qualifications and experiences as may be prescribed by the High Court.
(2)The sitting fee and other allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions for engagement of, Conciliators shall be such as may be prescribed by the State Government.
Transfer of civil disputes
28. The District Court having jurisdiction may, on an application made by any party or when there is considerable pendency of cases in one Gram Nyayalaya or whenever it considers necessary in the interest of justice, transfer any case pending before a Gram Nyayalaya to any other Gram Nyayalaya within its jurisdiction.
CHAPTER VI
PROCEDURE GENERALLY
Proceedings to be in the official language of the State
29. The proceedings before the Gram Nyayalaya and its judgment shall, as far as practicable, be in one of the official languages of the State other than the English Language.
Application of Indian Evidence Act, 1872
30. A Gram Nyayalaya may receive as evidence any report, statement, document, information or matter that may, in its opinion, assist it to deal effectually with a dispute, whether or not the same would be otherwise relevant or admissible under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Record of oral evidence
31. In suits or proceedings before a Gram Nyayalaya, it shall not be necessary to record the evidence of witnesses at length, but the Nyayadhikari, as the examination of each witness proceeds, shall, record or cause to be recorded, a memorandum of substance of what the witness deposes, and such memorandum shall be signed by the witness and the Nyayadhikari and it shall form part of the record.
Evidence of formal character on affidavit
32. (1) The evidence of any person where such evidence is of a formal character, may be given by affidavit and may, subject to all just exceptions, be read in evidence in any suit or proceeding before a Gram Nyayalaya.
(2) The Gram Nyayalaya may, if it thinks fit, and shall, on the application of any of the parties to the suit or proceeding, summon and examine any such person as to the facts contained in his affidavit.
CHAPTER VII
APPEALS
Appeal in criminal cases
33. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or any other law, no appeal shall lie from any judgment, sentence or order of a Gram Nyayalaya except as provided hereunder.
(2) No appeal shall lie where—
(a) an accused person has pleaded guilty and has been convicted on such plea;
(b) the Gram Nyayalaya has passed only a sentence of fine not exceeding one thousand rupees.
(3) Subject to sub-section (2), an appeal shall lie from any other judgment, sentence or order of a Gram Nyayalaya to the Court of Session.
(4) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a period of thirty days from the date of judgment, sentence or order of a Gram Nyayalaya.
Provided that the Court of Session may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the said period.
(5) An appeal preferred under sub-section (3) shall be heard and disposed of by the Court of Session within six months from the date of filing of such appeal.
(6) The Court of Session may, pending disposal of the appeal, direct the suspension of the sentence or order appealed against.
(7) The decision of the Court of Session under sub-section (5) shall be final and no appeal or revision shall lie from the decisions of the Court of Session.
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall preclude any person from availing of the judicial remedies available under articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution.
Appeal in Civil Cases
34. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or any other law, and subject to sub-section (2), an appeal shall lie from every judgment or order, not being an interlocutory order, of a Gram Nyayalaya to the District Court.
(2) No appeal shall lie from any judgment or order passed by the Gram Nyayalaya—
(a) with the consent of the parties;
(b) where the amount or value of the subject matter of a suit, claim or dispute does not exceed rupees one thousand;
(c) except on a question of law, where the amount or value of the subject matter of such suit, claim or dispute does not exceed rupees five thousand.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a period of thirty days from the date of judgment or order of a Gram Nyayalaya.
Provided that the District Court may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the said period.
(4) An appeal preferred under sub-section (1) shall be heard and disposed of by the District Court within six months from the date of filing of the appeal.
(5) The District Court may, pending disposal of the appeal, stay execution of the judgment or order appealed against.
(6) The decision of the District Court under sub-section (4) shall be final and no appeal or revision shall lie from the decisions of the District Court.
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall preclude any person from availing of the judicial remedies available under articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution.
CHAPTER VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Assistance of police to Gram Nyayalays
35. (1) Every police officer functioning within the local limits of jurisdiction of a Gram Nyayalaya shall be bound to assist the Gram Nyayalaya in the exercise of its lawful authority.
(2) Whenever the Gram Nyayalaya, in the discharge of its functions, directs a revenue officer or police officer or Government servant to provide assistance to the Gram Nyayalaya, he shall be bound to provide such assistance.
Nyayadhikaris and employees, etc to be public servants
36. The Nyayadhikaris and the officers and other employees of the Gram Nyayalayas shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
Inspection of Gram Nyayalayas
37. The High Court may authorize any judicial officer superior in rank to the Nyayadhikari to inspect the Gram Nyayalayas within his jurisdiction once in every six months or such other period as the High Court may prescribe and issue such instructions, as he considers necessary and submit a report to the High Court.
Power to remove difficulties
38. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of three years from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
Power of High Court to make rules
39. (1) The High Court may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
(2) The particulars and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:-
(a) the form and dimensions of the seal of the Gram Nyayalaya under section 10;
(b) the form, the manner and the fee for institution of suit, claim or proceeding under sub-section (1) of section 24;
(c) manner of service on opposite party under sub-section (2) of section 24;
(d) procedure for conciliation under sub-section (1) of section 26;
(e) qualifications and experience of Conciliators under sub-section (1) of section 27;
(f) the period for inspection of Gram Nyayalaya
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