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.

References state the Act was enacted to establish Gram Nyayalayas at the grassroots to provide access to justice and that State Governments establish them in consultation with High Courts.

High-yield for UPSC: knowing the objective and administrative set-up of statutes (who establishes courts, consultative requirements) helps answer questions on decentralised justice and federal/state roles. Connects to subjects like Panchayati Raj, judicial administration and centre–state relations. Prepare by memorising statutory purpose and establishment provisions and comparing similar acts.

One reference explicitly says the Gram Nyayalaya shall be a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, which bears directly on the nature of jurisdiction (criminal vs civil).

Crucial for questions about jurisdictional competence—knowing the statutory designation of the presiding officer helps infer types of cases dealt with and examine jurisdictional overlaps with regular courts. Useful in linked topics: subordinate courts, criminal procedure and decentralised dispute resolution. Study by mapping statutory office-holders to their usual jurisdictional powers.

Evidence notes the Act does not mandate setting up Gram Nyayalayas and lists practical problems hindering operationalisation, which affects whether and how their jurisdiction (civil or criminal) is exercised on ground.

Important for analytic answers on implementation gaps—UPSC often tests difference between law on paper and law in practice. Links to governance, public administration and judicial reforms. Prepare by noting statutory vs implementation facts and examples of operational barriers.

Reference [6] identifies the Gram Nyayalaya presiding officer as a Judicial Magistrate of the first class — central to inferring criminal jurisdiction.

Understanding the formal judicial status (magistrate class) explains the scope of powers and types of cases a court can try; this is frequently tested in UPSC questions on subordinate judiciary and criminal procedure. It links to topics on court hierarchy and jurisdictional limits; learn by mapping statutory designations to jurisdictional consequences and comparing magistrate classes across sources.

Reference [3] shows establishment is left to State Governments (consultation with High Courts) and not mandatory, affecting where Gram Nyayalayas operate.

High-yield for federalism and implementation questions — UPSC often asks about Centre–State roles in judiciary-related schemes. Master by studying how statutes delegate implementation, typical barriers to roll-out, and implications for access to justice.

Reference [8] records that Panchayat/Nyaya Panchayat courts try petty civil and criminal cases, providing precedent for grassroots courts exercising criminal jurisdiction.

Useful for comparing traditional panchayat dispute mechanisms with statutory village courts (Gram Nyayalayas) in questions on rural justice delivery. Study by contrasting jurisdiction, procedure, and constitutional/legislative status of different village-level forums.

References state the Act's core purpose is to provide access to justice at citizens' doorsteps and to prevent denial of justice due to social or economic disabilities.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask aims and rationale of judicial/legal reforms. This concept links to topics on legal access, social justice, and rural administration. Prepare by memorising statutory objectives and examples of institutional intent; useful for both static polity and policy-analysis answers.