Under the provisions of the Constitution, the primary responsibility for establishment of subordinate courts in the States rests with the respective State Governments. The Central Government provides financial assistance to State Governments for setting up Gram Nyayalayas which may hold mobile court outside their headquarters in terms of the provisions contained in the Gram Nayalayas Act, 2008.

            As per information available, 194 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified by 10 States, including 16 Gram Nyayalayas notified by the Government of Odisha. Year-wise and State-wise details of Gram Nyayalayas notified by the State Governments during last three years are given below.

            The issues affecting operationalization of the Gram Nyayalayas were discussed in the Conference of Chief Justices of High Courts and Chief Ministers of the States on 7^th April, 2013. It was decided in the Conference that the State Governments and High Courts should decide the question of establishment of Gram Nyayalayas wherever feasible, taking into account their local problems. The focus is on setting up Gram Nyayalayas in the Talukas where regular courts have not been set up.

            This information was given by Union Minister of Ministry of Law & Justice, Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

ST/rs