With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases.

2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is Option 2: 2 only.

This means that Statement 1 is incorrect and Statement 2 is correct. Let us analyze each statement carefully with reference to the provisions of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.

Statement 1: "Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases."

This statement is factually incorrect. The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to provide access to justice at the grassroots level by establishing mobile courts at the village level. A fundamental feature of these courts is that they have jurisdiction over both civil and criminal matters.

Specifically:

- Civil jurisdiction: Gram Nyayalayas can try civil suits, claims, and disputes as specified in the First Schedule of the Act — including disputes related to property, money recovery, matrimonial matters (other than divorce), and labour disputes, among others.
- Criminal jurisdiction: Gram Nyayalayas also have the power to try criminal cases listed in the Second Schedule of the Act. These are typically offences that are punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or with a fine, or with both.

Therefore, the claim that Gram Nyayalayas handle only civil cases is wrong. The dual jurisdiction — civil and criminal — is actually one of the defining features of these courts, making them comprehensive dispute-resolution bodies at the village level.

Statement 2: "The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators."

This statement is correct. The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 places significant emphasis on conciliation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a primary mechanism before a formal trial proceeds.

Under the Act:

- Every Gram Nyayalaya is required to make efforts to settle disputes through conciliation first, before proceeding to adjudicate them formally.
- For this purpose, the Act empowers Gram Nyayalayas to utilise conciliators, who can be drawn from a panel of persons — and this panel explicitly includes local social activists and persons of repute from the area.
- This provision is rooted in the philosophy of delivering justice in a manner that is familiar, informal, and community-oriented, recognising that local social workers who understand the community's social fabric can play a vital role in resolving disputes amicably.

This feature distinguishes Gram Nyayalayas from conventional courts, by weaving community participation and social mediation into the formal legal framework.

Summary:

- Statement 1 is INCORRECT — Gram Nyayalayas have jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases.
- Statement 2 is CORRECT — The Act explicitly allows local social activists to serve as mediators/conciliators.
- Hence, only Statement 2 is correct, making "2 only" the right answer.