NEW DELHI: The Union Minister of Law and Justice, H. R. Bhardwaj, at a seminar organised to mark the 61st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, said that the Government was drafting a separate law on panchayat courts (gram nyayalayas) which would be integrated into the existing Panchayati Raj system but not at the cost of diluting the quality of justice.

Stating that he had already started interactions with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and the National Advisory Council (NAC), Mr. Bhardwaj said he would consult non-governmental organisations that had worked in this field before drafting the law. "The details of such a law are being examined by the Law Ministry, but in the name of Panchayati Raj, let us not adulterate our judicial system."

Pointing out that the existing panchayat system had become politicised in many States, Mr. Bhardwaj said that people in rural areas should not feel that their rights would be snatched away by the proposed panchayat courts. He suggested that the panchayat courts include two judges with the qualification of Judicial Magistrate First Class or Civil Judge (Junior Division). He said the courts would follow summary procedure without dispensing with rules of corroboration with a provision of appeal to the District Judge. He said that the the law would be based on the 114th Law Commission Report headed by Justice D. A. Desai. The pecuniary jurisdiction for civil courts would extend to Rs. 2 lakhs and for criminal matters, to imprisonment of up to two years.

Mr. Bhardwaj said that the plan for panchayat courts would involve at least 2000 courts and more than 4000 judges. He said that he would like to involve more women judges and that the Government would introduce the element of legal aid by paying for legal aid lawyers to assist the courts.

The Minister said that the Government would also consider sending mobile courts to remote areas. He said: "Judges can travel to villages, adopt blocks as their headquarters and work there."

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