SC raised concern regarding the feasibility of setting up Gram Nyayalayas (village courts), as mandated by the Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008.

• Gram Nyayalayas ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other disabilities. 

Key Concern raised by SC

• Establishment of Gram Nyayalayas by States/UTs is mandatory or not: Section 3 of the Act provides that governments "may" constitute Gram Nyayalayas.
• Resource Crunch: State governments, already facing limited resources for regular courts, find it challenging to fund additional gram nyayalayas.
• Rising Burden: They may end up burdening high courts with appeals and writ petitions.

Key Features of Gram Nyayalayas  

• Seat: Establish at intermediate level Panchayat or a group of contiguous Panchayats. 
  • State government appoints 'Nyayadhikari' for each Gram Nyayalaya in consultation with the high court. 
• Jurisdiction: Shall be a mobile court, with both civil and criminal jurisdiction.. 
• Dispute Process: Disputes are to be preferably settled with the help of conciliation. 
  • Social workers may be appointed as Conciliators.
  • They are not bound by the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam) but by Principles of Natural Justice.