Project JANA docu-series | How long do non-judicial bodies take to resolve disputes?

A court case is a lengthy procedure, and the delay in justice is the primary reason people approach non-judicial bodies. This film, part of the documentary series Justice, Access, and the Nation’s Approaches (JANA), compares the time taken in dispute resolution by judicial and non-judicial bodies across India.

In almost all the interviews featured in the film, representatives of various non-judicial bodies observe that the cases they handle are frequently resolved in the very first meeting. Further, Shivamurthy Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, who conducts an open court session in Sirigere, gram panchayat members, khap panchayat members, and the Shiv Sena members state that the time taken to dispose of (or resolve) the matter depends on whether both the parties are present, and if they are willing to cooperate. This disposal time can usually be measured in weeks and days, say the interviewees, except for a few cases that could take up several months or years, purely due to non-cooperation of the parties.

Mr Tupe, a former ACP of Mumbai Police, and Harish Narasappa, lawyer and co-founder of DAKSH, describe the delays affecting Indian courts — and their causes — noting that courts can take up to 10–15 years to dispose of a case.

This documentary series is based on a household survey conducted in 2017 by  DAKSH , a Bengaluru-based civil society organisation working to promote accountability and better governance in India.

Watch the other parts of the docu-series JANA  here,   here ,  here  , and here .