New Delhi, March 16 – A Parliamentary Standing Committee has suggested that Gram Nyayalayas should function regularly, pointing out that in some states these rural courts only operate for two days a week, an official said on Monday.
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Brij Lal, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Rajya Sabha, reiterated its recommendation in its 147th Report that Gram Nyayalayas must function on all working days in order to effectively reduce the backlog of cases at the local level.
The Committee presented its 162nd Report on the Demands for Grants (2026-27) of the Department of Justice (Ministry of Law and Justice) in both Houses of Parliament on Monday, the official said in a statement.
In the report, the committee also called for the early filling of vacancies in rural courts.
"The Committee believes that the early creation of posts and timely filling of vacancies of Nyayadhikaris would ensure uninterrupted functioning of Gram Nyayalayas."
"The Committee believes that Gram Nyayalayas were intended to improve access to justice at the grassroots level. By establishing them, it will be able to provide speedy, affordable and decentralized justice, especially in rural and remote areas," the report said.
"The success of Gram Nyayalayas depends on their regular functioning, the availability of basic infrastructure, the presence of trained judicial officers, and adequate support from the state governments," the report added.
The Committee observed that since the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas is not mandatory for states, and that in many states where such courts exist, they operate only for two days a week, this restricts their effectiveness in disposing of cases.
Responding to the Committee's recommendation that Gram Nyayalayas should function on all working days instead of one or two days a week, the Department said that while the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the state governments, the Department has issued a letter on April 30, 2025, to the states.
