Grama Nyayalu To Be Set Up Soon

A proposal to set up the 'Grama Nyayalu' (Village Courts) as envisaged by the state government in March this year, is taking definite shape.

Funds have been sanctioned to begin the process.

A minimum of 200 cases are required for setting up a Village Court at the mandal level, and a survey to this effect has been completed, said Minister For Law And Courts Erasu Pratap Reddy, at an exclusive meeting with journalists at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Earlier, the government had decided that 139 such courts would be set up to lessen the burden on the courts at the district level and also to help solve small cases and issue speedy disposals at the mandal level without forcing litigants to rush to the districts.

Each court is likely to cost Rs. 8 lakh annually. The central government is expected to share 70% of the expenditure, and the balance would be borne by the state.

Erasu also revealed that the state government would continue with its Fast Track Courts beyond March 31, 2011, for one more year, despite the Central government's halt to the aid.

"Keeping in view the quick disposals, both civil and criminal, by the Fast Track Courts, and with a view to rendering speedy trial of cases to litigants, Fast Track Courts are being continued," the Minister said.

The Centre had introduced these courts with an objective to render speedy justice to the public, and also to reduce pending cases. Fast Track Courts were introduced in the country in 2001 for 5 years initially, and then extended for 5 more years till March 31, 2011.

Fast Track Courts have been functioning in the AP since April 1, 2001.

In Andhra Pradesh, 108 Fast Track Courts at the cost of Rs. 15 crore yearly (78 Courts in the Cadre of Additional District and Sessions Judges and 30 courts in the Cadre of Senior Civil Judges) were established. They are being continued owing to their phenomenal success in solving cases. (INN)