New Delhi, November 30: According to the e-Committee website of the Supreme Court of India, there are currently 688 District Courts functioning nationwide.
The Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008, which aims to establish Gram Nyayalayas at the grassroots level, seeks to provide accessible justice in rural areas, ensuring that citizens have the opportunity to secure justice, as stated in a recent press release.
As of now, 313 Gram Nyayalayas are operational across the country, having resolved over 2.99 lakh cases from December 2020 to October 2024.
Additionally, Lok Adalats are organized by Legal Services Institutions at regular intervals to address the backlog of cases in the courts and resolve disputes at the pre-litigation stage. Lok Adalats handle cases referred to them by the respective courts.
Since Lok Adalats are not permanent bodies, any unsettled cases are returned to the respective courts and are not left pending with the Lok Adalats, the press release clarified.
In the year 2024-25 (up to September 2024), a total of 5,944 benches of State Lok Adalats were formed, resolving 1,011,912 cases. Additionally, 98,776 cases were settled through 17,309 sittings of Permanent Lok Adalats (Public Utility Services) during the same period.
To further support these efforts, the government allocated Rs 200 crore to the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in 2024-25 (up to October 2024) for the implementation of legal aid programs through State Legal Services Authorities. These legal services institutions are set up at various levels, from Taluk to the Supreme Court, to offer free legal aid to the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society.
As of September 2024, 41,775 panel lawyers and 43,050 para-legal volunteers are available through these institutions to enhance access to justice across the country, including in rural areas.
This information was shared by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law & Justice, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
