3. Establishment of Gram Nyayalayas.— (1) For the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction and
powers conferred on a Gram Nyayalaya by this Act, the State Government, after consultation with the
High Court, may, by notification, establish one or more Gram Nyayalayas for every Panchayat at
intermediate level or a group of contiguous Panchayats at intermediate level in a district or where there is
no Panchayat at intermediate level in any State, for a group of contiguous Gram Panchayats.
(2) The State Government shall, after consultation with the High Court, specify, by notification, the
local limits of the area to which the jurisdiction of a Gram Nyayalaya shall extend and may, at any time,
increase, reduce or alter such limits.
(3) The Gram Nyayalayas established under sub-section (1) shall be in addition to the courts
established under any other law for the time being in force.
4. Headquarters of Gram Nyayalaya.— The headquarters of every Gram Nyayalaya shall be
located at the headquarters of the intermediate Panchayat in which the Gram Nyayalaya is established or
such other place as may be notified by the State Government.
5. Appointment of Nyayadhikari.— The State Government shall, in consultation with the High
Court, appoint a Nyayadhikari for every Gram Nyayalaya.
6. Qualifications for appointment of Nyayadhikari.— (1) A person shall not be qualified to be
appointed as a Nyayadhikari unless he is eligible to be appointed as a Judicial Magistrate of the first class.
(2) While appointing a Nyayadhikari, representation shall be given to the members of the Scheduled
Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, women and such other classes or communities as may be specified by
notification, by the State Government from time to time.
7. Salary, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of Nyayadhikari.— The salary
and other allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, a Nyayadhikari shall be
such as may be applicable to the Judicial Magistrate of the first class.
8. Nyayadhikari not to preside over proceedings in which he is interested.— The Nyayadhikari
shall not preside over the proceedings of a Gram Nyayalaya in which he has any interest or is otherwise
involved in the subject matter of the dispute or is related to any party to such proceedings and in such a
case, the Nyayadhikari shall refer the matter to the District Court or the Court of Session, as the case may
be, for transferring it to any other Nyayadhikari.
9. Nyayadhikari to hold mobile courts and conduct proceedings in villages.— (1) The
Nyayadhikari shall periodically visit the villages falling under his jurisdiction and conduct trial or
proceedings at any place which he considers is in close proximity to the place where the parties ordinarily
reside or where the whole or part of the cause of action had arisen:
Provided that where the Gram Nyayalaya decides to hold mobile court outside its headquarters, it
shall give wide publicity as to the date and place where it proposes to hold mobile court.
(2) The State Government shall extend all facilities to the Gram Nyayalaya including the provision of
vehicles for holding mobile court by the Nyayadhikari while conducting trial or proceedings outside its
headquarters.
10. Seal of Gram Nyayalaya.— Every Gram Nyayalaya established under this Act shall use a seal of
the court in such form and dimensions as may be prescribed by the High Court with the approval of the
State Government.