Nyaya Panchayats And Other Local Judicial Bodies
Amicus Curiae
If a petition is received from jail or in any other criminal matter if the accused is unrepresented then an Advocate is appointed as amicus curiae by the Court to defend and argue the case of the accused. In civil matters also the Court can appoint an Advocate as amicus curiae if it thinks it necessary in case of an unrepresented party; the court can also appoint amicus curiae in any matter of general importance or in which the interest of the public at large is involved.
Nyaya Panchayats
The Nyaya panchayats are the judicial bodies in village, which provide speedy and inexpensive justice on all petty civil suits and minor offences within their domain of operations which is usually limited to four to five villages only. They can impose only monetary fines at the most as punishments and or barred from the power to award imprisonment sentences (except in Bihar).
Family Courts
Family Courts Act (1984) aims at promoting conciliation in and securing speedy settlement of disputes relating to marriage, family affairs and related matters. It envisages that courts shall be set up in a city or town with a population of more than 10 lakh and at such other places as the state government may deem necessary. Family courts have been set up in Andhra Pradesh (7), Assam (1), Bihar (2), Karnataka (8), Kerala (7), Maharashtra (16), Manipur (1), Orissa (2), Pondicherry (1), Rajasthan (6), Sikkim (1), Tamil Nadu (6), (1). The Governments of Gujarat (1) and Punjab (2) have also decided to establish Family Courts. Besides, necessary notifications extending the jurisdiction of the Family Courts Act have also been issued by the Government of India in respect of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Fast Track Courts
Fast Track Courts ( FCs ) are being set up on the recommendation of the Eleventh Finance Commission, funded by Ministry of Finance, since 2001-2002. Fast Track Courts in Delhi and one in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The FTCs will take up sessions cases pending for two years or more, and the cases of undertrials in jails. At present, there is about two lakh undertrials in jails on whose maintenance the State Governments are spending about Rs. 400 crore per annum. About 18 per cent of the under-trials have been in jail for more than one year. Such cases are likely to be disposed of by the FTCs soon.
Check out these notes on Lokpal and lokayutas in India.