Gram Nyayalayas are village-level courts established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 to ensure speedy and affordable justice in rural India. Despite the target of setting up 5000 such courts, only around 200 are operational today. The Supreme Court in 2019 directed states to implement the Act effectively, highlighting gaps in notifications and functioning. These courts aim to make justice accessible to the rural poor and reduce the burden on district courts.

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• Established under Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 for fast, affordable rural justice.
•  Target 5000 courts, but only ~200 functional across India.
• Supreme Court (2019) ordered states to notify and operationalize Gram Nyayalayas.
•  Each court headed by a Judicial Magistrate (Nyayadhikari) appointed by the state in consultation with the High Court.
•  Jurisdiction: handles both civil and criminal cases within Panchayat-level areas.
• Mobile courts allowed; can hold proceedings directly in villages.
•  Follows summary procedures, guided by natural justice, not strictly bound by Evidence Act.
•  Appeals in criminal cases to Session Court, in civil cases to District Court; to be resolved in six months.
•  Helps ensure equal access to justice, reduce litigation cost, and unburden district courts.
•  Challenges: poor infrastructure, low awareness, limited manpower, and lack of coordination among states.