A Legal Report for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India - A STUDY TO REVIEW AND STRENGTHEN NYAYA PANCHAYATS IN INDIA Including Aspects of Constitutionality of Nyaya Panchayats with Reference to the Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009 VIDEH UPADHYAY Advocate & Legal Consultant [
[email protected]] SAMARTHAN-Centre for Development Support In technical association with 3E LAW FINAL REPORT May 2011 1 A Legal Report for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India A STUDY TO REVIEW AND STRENGTHEN NYAYA PANCHAYATS IN INDIA Including Aspects of Constitutionality of Nyaya Panchayats with Reference to the Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009 BRIEF CONTENTS Section 1 – Nyaya Panchayats and the Constitutional Ideal of Justice 03 Section 2 – Key Points, Scheme and Safeguards under the Nyaya Panchayats Bill 2009 09 Section 3 – Aspects of Constitutionality of Nyaya Panchayats 13 Section 4 - Nyaya Panchayats and Independence of Judiciary as Basic Feature of the Constitution 22 Section 5 –Overview of State Level Provisions on Nyaya Panchayats/ Gram Kutchahry 27 Section 6 – Specific Suggestions for Amendments for Strengthening the Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009 30 Section 7- Key Inferences and Recommendations 37 Annexure A- Comparative Chart on the 2009 Bill and State Laws 42 2 A Legal Report for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India A STUDY TO REVIEW AND STRENGTHEN NYAYA PANCHAYATS IN INDIA Including Aspects of Constitutionality of Nyaya Panchayats with Reference to the Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009 VIDEH UPADHYAY 1 Background: 1. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India have prepared the Draft Nyaya Panchayat Bill, 2009 that aims to revitalize the concept of participatory grass roots level dispute resolution by mediation, conciliation and compromise outside the formal judicial system.