In a village in Bihar, two neighbours quarrel over a boundary wall, and one of them, Suresh, damages the other's standing crop. The matter goes to a local body of elected villagers that hears small disputes. After hearing both sides, the body holds Suresh guilty. The farmer whose crop was lost demands that Suresh be sent to jail for a month. His niece Priya, visiting from far away, is surprised: where she lives, villagers must go to the town court even for such small quarrels.
Which of the following best explains Priya's surprise?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Nyaya Panchayats have been constituted in some states, not in all of them.
Option (1) Nyaya Panchayats have been constituted in some states, not in all of them. — Correct. Nyaya Panchayats have been constituted in some states only. Priya's area has no such village court, so even small quarrels go to the town court.
Option (2) Nyaya Panchayats are set up in tribal areas under special provisions. — Incorrect. Special provisions for tribal areas are a separate part of Panchayati Raj. Nyaya Panchayats are village courts set up in some states, with no tie to tribal areas.
Option (3) Nyaya Panchayats work at the district level, through the Zilla Panchayat. — Incorrect. Nyaya Panchayats are village courts, and they hear petty cases in the village itself. The Zilla Panchayat at the district level is the channel for grants to Panchayats.
Option (4) Nyaya Panchayats are formed in villages whose Gram Sabha votes for one. — Incorrect. A Nyaya Panchayat exists where the state has constituted one. A vote of the Gram Sabha is not what creates it.
NCERT (2026-27): “Powers and Responsibilities of Panchayats … |