Law Ministry questions constitutional validity of Nyaya Panchayat Bill

The Law Ministry has raised the issue of constitutional validity of the draft Nyaya Panchayat Bill and it will be introduced in Parliament only after clearance from the ministry, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Nihal Chand said his ministry had prepared the draft Nyaya Panchayat Bill to provide for establishment of Nyaya panchayats at the level of every Gram Panchayat to provide a system of fair and speedy justice, both civil and criminal, to citizens at their doorsteps.

The bill was forwarded to the Law Ministry for its inputs after receiving comments from concerned ministries, departments and states.

"However, the Ministry of Law and Justice has raised a number of points including the basic question of Constitutional validity of bringing in the proposed legislation," he said.

Stating that detailed comments in this regard has been made to the Law Ministry, Chand said further steps for introduction of the bill in Parliament will be taken after it is cleared by the Ministry of Law and Justice.