Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 is an Act of Parliament of India enacted for the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas or village courts for speedy and easy access to justice system in the rural areas of India.
The State Government, after consultation with the High Court, may, by notification, establish one or more Gram Nyayalayas for every Panchayat at an intermediate level or a group of contiguous Panchayats at an intermediate level in a district or where there is no Panchayat at an intermediate level in any State, for a group of contiguous Gram Panchayats.
The State Government shall, in consultation with the High Court, appoint a Nyayadhikari for every Gram Nyayalaya.
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 Nyayadhikari.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908(5 of 1908)or any other law for the time being in force, the Gram Nyayalaya shall exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction.
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.
An appeal, in case of criminal cases, shall lie from any other judgment, sentence or order of a Gram Nyayalaya to the Court of Session.
An appeal, in case of civil cases, shall lie from every judgment or order, not being an interlocutory order, of a Gram Nyayalaya to the District Court.