HC seeks response from Govt on Village Courts

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 21: High court today sought response from Government in PIL seeking establishment of village Courts (Dehi Adaalats) for the State.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice D S Thakur issued notice to Chief Secretary, Commissioner/ Secretary (GAD), Commissioner/ Secret-ary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs seeking their response to the contentions raised in PIL by or before next date.
The petitioner through his Advocate submitted  before court that the J&K Legislature has passed a legislation in 2013 known as The Jammu and Kashmir Dehi Adalats Act, 2013 for establishing village courts at grass root level but after passage of four years nothing on ground has been done.
Counsel also stated that the purpose of establishing Dehi Adalats is to provide access to Justice to the Citizens at their doorsteps.
The petitioner states that Dehi Adalat Act, 2013 has been published in Government Gazette on 24th October 2013, and has come into force on 03-09-2014 by virtue of SRO 274 of 2014. To the unfortunate affairs and the inaction of the state authorities near about four years have passed since coming into force of the said Act, till date the respondents have failed to implement the said Act.
“The Government by SRO 275 OF 2014 has already issued notification for the establishment of 22 Dehi Adalats in 22 Districts of the State, but no process has been initiated thereof to make Dehi Adalats functional in the State. The Legislature intended to bring the pillars of justice at the door steps of its Citizens by passing the said Legislation, the said Legislation has a Magna-carta (fundamental rights) effect in opening doors of Justice to Citizens who are not able to secure Justice by reason of social, economic or other disabilities as enshrined in the Preamble and under Article 39(A) and 14 of the Constitution but the inaction of the Respondents has stopped the objective of the Legislature to provide Justice at grass root level to its Citizens by way of the said Act,” reads the petition.
The Petitioner sought intervention of Court by directing the respondents to implement The Jammu and Kashmir Dehi Adalats Act, 2013 in letter and spirit thereby establishing Dehi Adalats as is provided under the Act, and make them functional in the entire State of J&K.

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