Gram Nyayalayas were conceived to deliver prompt and affordable justice to the rural poor in India. But in practice, many of these courts are havens of inefficiency and corruption. A classic case amongst these is the Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya at Mankapur, district Gonda in UP.
This rural court, which has its counterparts across the country, was created with admirable intentions — to resolve legal disputes at the village level and to ease the load on busy district courts. But the truth of how it operates is an entrenched environment of corruption and disrepair that has betrayed public trust and those it was created to serve.
The Case of Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya
Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya is the classic case of how systemic corruption works to subvert the functioning of rural courts. Started to cater to rural patients of Gonda district, it is now a byword for malpractices and unscrupulous behaviour.
Corruption in File Management
In Mankapur there are also reports of how the peshkars (clerks) have come to clearly control the judicial instant management.
- Bribes for Moving Files: The litigants from make to pay losa 50 to losa 200 to and from the case files.
- Changing Records: You can change the contents of your file, for a fee—be it adding entirely new documents, taking away old ones, or even changing the narratives of your cases.
- Date tampering dates are always time-counter changing lineup according to paying more. These are expensive for the honest litigant.
Exploitation of Vulnerable Populations
Enticed to provide these bribes are the rural litigants, many of whom are farmers, labourers, and small business owners, who have minimal scruples over whether these are appropriate or not beyond their ability to ensure the progress of their case. These working-class citizens seek their way (to make their living clearer if not fairer) and fall prey to vice and corrupt officials who take advantage of their desperation.
Failure in Serious Cases
There are several cases in which the related offences are of heinous nature and were wrongly handled by Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya. The police have had a track record of registering false cases which the courts have dismissed for being out of jurisdiction. The files are then juggled between courts, and victims are left in a limbo, while the peshkars continue to reap the benefits of the confusion.
Broader Implications
The problems with Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya are not exceptional; they are representative of a malaise that afflicts rural courts everywhere. The wastefulness and graft that mar these courts not only slow justice, but also undermine faith in the judiciary.
Economic Strain on Litigants
The unbated pressure for bribes compounds the burden on litigants, who include many from poorer backgrounds. A farmer from Gonda once cried and told me how he had to sell his land to keep alive his case by giving bribes time and again.
Justice Denied
Long pendency of cases is the standard of Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya. With these delays and bureaucratic barriers justice delayed is justice denied.
Loss of Public Faith
Now, for the people of Mankapur and its neighbours, the courtroom is not a place for justice. Instead, it’s an unsolvable tone where the rich and powerful get to control the outcome and the poor people get the shaft.
The Need for Reform
To restore trust in institutions like Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya, immediate reforms are necessary:
- Digital Record-Keeping
Implementing a digital platform of file management and case tracking can reduce tampering and enhance transparency. - Independent Monitoring Committees
We must create commissions to manage court administration and process allegations of corruption. - Accountability for Peshkars
Severe punitive measures should be imposed against the clerks who were involved in the malpractice. It is also necessary for both their position to be redefined and for discretionary power to be limited. - Public Grievance Mechanisms
It is crucial to establish channels through which litigants can report corruption and inefficiency, free from retaliation. - Awareness Campaigns
By informing the rural population about their legal rights and the procedures of the judicial system, they can be empowered to resist exploitation.
The Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya is a stark illustration of how far rural courts have moved away from their original mandate. It should have been a temple of justice for the farmers but it ends up more riddled with corruption and inefficiency. The government and the judiciary need to step up their efforts to solve these problems, because the people of Mankapur – and of India – deserve a justice system that is just, transparent, and accountable.
Until that moment arrives, institutions like Mankapur Gramin Nyayalaya will continue to be a bitter reminder of the hollow promises of justice in rural India.
