The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to revolutionize rural justice delivery in India, fulfilling the constitutional mandate of Article 39A (equal justice) and the 114th Law Commission Report (1986) that recommended mobile courts for villages. Operationalized from October 2, 2009 (Gandhi Jayanti), it created India's first formal system of village-level courts.
Key Features:
Mobile Courts (Section 3):
Establishes Gram Nyayalayas at intermediate panchayat level
Functions as mobile courts conducting proceedings in villages
Jurisdiction (Section 7-9):
Covers civil disputes (up to ₹10 lakh) and criminal cases (max 2yr imprisonment)
Exercises powers of both Magistrate and Civil Judge
Simplified Procedure (Section 14-21):
Mandates disposal within 90 days
Allows evidence recording in local language
Permits community participation as conciliators
Cost-Free Justice (Section 26):
No court fees for scheduled caste/tribe and below poverty line litigants
Minimal fees for others (max ₹100)
The Act aims to provide "justice at doorsteps" by overcoming barriers of distance, cost and procedural complexity. Despite slow implementation (only 476 functional nyayalayas against 5000 planned), it remains a landmark in decentralizing justice. The 2019 Amendment proposed electronic filing to enhance accessibility.