Gram Nyayalayas were set up under the Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008 at the grass root level for the purpose of providing access to justice to the rural citizens at their doorsteps and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other disabilities. The concerned State Governments are responsible for establishing Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. However, it is not mandatory for the states to set up the Gram Nyayalayas. The state-wise details of Gram Nyayalayas notified and made functional are as follows:

Sl. No.	State/UTs	Gram Nyayalayas Notified	Gram Nyayalayas Functional
1	Madhya Pradesh	89	89
2	Rajasthan	45	45
3	Kerala	30	30
4	Maharashtra	36	23
5	Odisha	24	20
6	Uttar Pradesh	113	51
7	Karnataka	2	2
8	Haryana	2	2
9	Punjab	9	2
10	Jharkhand	6	1
11	Goa	2	0
12	Andhra Pradesh	42	0
13	Telangana	55	0
14	Jammu & Kashmir	20	0
15	Ladakh	2	0
Total		477	265

 

The steps taken to dispose of the pending cases in the district courts across the country are as under:

The disposal of pending cases in the Courts lies exclusively within the domain of the judiciary. The Central Government has no direct role in the matter. However, the Government has taken several initiatives to provide suitable environment for expeditious disposal of cases by the judiciary. Central Government started the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms in August, 2011 with the twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears in the system and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities. The Mission has been pursuing a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration, which, inter-alia, involves better infrastructure for courts, including computerization, an increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.

Further, for improving the infrastructure for Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts, as on date, Rs. 9812.82 crores have been released since the inception of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary in 1993-94. As a result, the number of court halls has increased from 15,818 as on 30.06.2014 to 21,295 as on 13.03.2023, and number of residential units has increased from 10,211 as on 30.06.2014 to 18,741 as on 13.03.2023, under this scheme. In addition, 2,488 court halls and 1,305 residential units are under construction (as per NyayaVikas Portal).

 

Besides, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been leveraged for improving justice delivery under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project. As a result, the number of computerised district & subordinate courts has increased to 18,735 so far. WAN connectivity has been provided to 99.4% of court complexes. All stakeholders, including judicial officers can access information relating to judicial proceedings/decisions of computerized district & subordinate courts and high courts on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). Video conferencing facility has been enabled between 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 corresponding jails. 21 virtual courts have been set up in 17 States/UTs. As on 31.01.2023, these courts have handled more than 2.53 crore cases and realized more than Rs. 359 crores in fines.

 

Also, Arrears Committees have been set up in all 25 High Courts to clear cases pending for more than five years.  Arrears Committees have been set up under District courts as well. 

Vacancies are being filled up in the Supreme Court, High Courts and District and Subordinate Courts regularly. From 01.05.2014 to 07.03.2023, 54 Judges were appointed in Supreme Court. 887 new Judges were appointed and 646 Additional Judges were made permanent in the High Courts. Sanctioned strength of Judges of High Courts has been increased from 906 in May, 2014 to 1114 currently. Sanctioned and working strength of judicial officers in district and subordinate courts has increased as follow:

As on	Sanctioned Strength	Working Strength
31.12.2013	19,518	15,115
13.03.2023	25,189	19,520

 

            Filling up of vacancies in subordinate judiciary falls within the domain of the State Governments and high courts concerned.

Under the aegis of the Fourteenth Finance Commission, the Government of India established Fast Track Courts for cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women, children, etc. As on 31.01.2023, 843 Fast Track Courts are functional for heinous crimes, crimes against women, and children etc. Further, the central government has approved a scheme for setting up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across the country for the expeditious disposal of pending cases of Rape under IPC and crimes under POCSO Act. As on date, 28 States/UTs have joined the scheme.

In addition, to reduce pendency and unclogging of the courts, the Government has recently amended various laws like the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2018, the Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018, the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018, the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) is being promoted wholeheartedly. With this aim in view, the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 was amended on 20th August, 2018, making it mandatory to go for Pre-institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) in case of commercial disputes. Amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 has been made by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act 2015 for expediting the speedy resolution of disputes by prescribing timelines.

Under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987, an award made by a LokAdalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies against thereto before any court.  As per Section 19 of the LSA Act, 1987, LokAdalats are organized by Legal Services Institutions as per requirement.  National LokAdalats are organized simultaneously in all Taluks, Districts and High Courts on a pre-fixed date.

The Government launched the Tele-Law programme in 2017, which provided an effective and reliable e-interface platform connecting the needy and disadvantaged sections seeking legal advice and consultation with panel lawyers via video conferencing, telephone and chat facilities available at the Common Service Centres (CSCs) situated in Gram Panchayat and through Tele-Law mobile App.

Efforts have been made to institutionalize pro bono culture and pro bono lawyering in the country. A technological framework has been put in place where advocates volunteering to give their time and services for pro bono work can register as Pro Bono Advocates on Nyaya Bandhu (Android & iOS and Apps). Nyaya Bandhu Services also available on UMANG Platform. Pro Bono Panel of advocates have been initiated in 21 High Courts at the State level. Pro Bono Clubs have been started in 69 select Laws Schools to instill Pro Bono culture in budding lawyers.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Law & Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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