The Manipur High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking establishment of Gram Nyayalayas in the State of Manipur, as provided under Section 3 of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008.
The PIL filed by one Sanasam Ratankumar Singh, also seeks directions to the Central Government to provide adequate financial assistance for this purpose.
However, the Registry of the High Court has placed before the High Court a copy of the Petition pending for consideration before the Supreme Court of India. This petition was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by the National Federation of Societies for Fast Justice and another. The High Court of Manipur is arrayed therein as respondent .
The Supreme Court is therefore seized of all issues arising in relation to implementation of Section 3 of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, including establishment of such Gram Nyayalas in the State of Manipur.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice MV Muralidaran , therefore, sees no reason to entertain the PIL.
All the more so, as the prayers made in Petition are identical to the prayers in the PIL, that is, with regard to taking immediate steps for constitution of Gram Nyayalayas and to issue directions to the Central Government to provide adequate financial support for that purpose.
It is left open to the petitioner to file a case afresh in the event any issue still remains for consideration after disposal of the case pending before the Supreme Court of India, the Court observed.