Section 2 of GNA : Section 2: Definitions

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where a local resident of a rural village, Mr. Sharma, has a dispute with his neighbor regarding the boundaries of their agricultural land. To resolve this civil matter, Mr. Sharma decides to approach the justice system for a resolution. Instead of going to the regular civil court, which can be time-consuming and expensive, he opts for the local Gram Nyayalaya, a court established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, specifically designed to handle such disputes at the village level.

Mr. Sharma visits the Gram Panchayat office to find out the procedure for filing his case. The Gram Panchayat is the local self-government institution at the village level, which also provides information about the functioning of the Gram Nyayalaya. They inform him that the presiding officer of the Gram Nyayalaya, known as the Nyayadhikari, will hear his case. The Nyayadhikari is appointed under Section 5 of the Act and has the authority to adjudicate the matter.

As the case progresses, if either party is dissatisfied with the decision of the Gram Nyayalaya, they have the option to appeal to the High Court of the state. In Mr. Sharma's case, if he is not content with the outcome, he can take his grievance to the High Court for further review.

The entire process, from the notification of court dates to the final decision, is governed by the rules prescribed under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, and all official communications are published in the Official Gazette.