v. Gram Nyayalaya
Unquestionably, the idea of a contemporary, democratic, and constitutional India revolves around equality and justice. By conducting its job of administering justice, the State machinery carries out the values of equality and fairness. Systemic issues with India’s judicial system include corruption, holdups, pendency, rising prices, a lack of adequate legal aid, and a shortage of judges and attorneys with the necessary training.
- To address these issues, the Law Ministry established Gram Nyayalays in 2009 to give the underprivileged living in villages a low-cost venue to resolve legal disputes. The Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008 created it.
- This Act perpetuates the phenomenon of two distinct groups of Indians: the wealthy urban citizen who can afford and access the courts, and the less connected rural citizen who has access to forums that are primarily focused on resolving their claims without the application of crucial procedural safeguards such as attorneys, appeals, protections for procedural rights, and evidentiary requirements.
- Gram Nyayalayas are mobile village courts that were created in India to provide quick and simple access to the legal system in the country’s rural areas.
- They are designed to bring affordable justice to rural residents at their doorsteps.
- The Act went into effect on October 2, 2009, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. (The symbols Gram, Nyay, and Aalya represent the village, justice, and house, respectively.)