The first Grama Nyayalayam in the district, established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 by Parliament to provide justice to the citizens at their doorstep, will come up at Thamarassery grama panchayat.
Justice Antony Dominic of Kerala High Court will inaugurate the Grama Nyayalayam at 9.30 a.m. on July 23, District and Sessions Judge T.S. P. Moosad told newspersons here on Wednesday.
The Grama Nyayalayam would function as civil, criminal and family courts. It would have jurisdiction over Tharamassery, Thiruvambadi, Kattippara, Kizhakkoth, Kodencherry, Kooderanji, Madavoor, Ommassery and Puthuppady grama panchayats in Koduvally block panchayat.
As many as 67 cases involving domestic violence have already been transferred to this Grama Nyayalayam. Notices would be sent to complainants and respondents in these cases soon.
The sitting of the Grama Nyayalayam would be held at the grama panchayats according to a schedule.
About 30 Grama Nyayalayam have been sanctioned in the State. They would function from the buildings in possession of local self-governments.
The delay in the setting up them at the identified places including Kuttiyadi grama panchayat in Kozhikode district has been attributed to local bodies not having their own buildings.
As of now, nine Grama Nyayalayams have either started or would commence functioning shortly. Nine employees attached to courts have been deputed to the Thamarassery Grama Nyayalayam.
The judicial officer will be known by Munsiff-Magistrate at the Grama Nyayalayam. There will be a junior superintendent as secretary, three clerks, a stenographer and others.
A Grama Nyayalayam, which functions as mobile court, exercises the powers of both criminal and civil courts. It can award a punishment not more than two years of imprisonment and fine of Rs.20,000.
