The West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973 - MGNREGA Jalpaiguri, Home

59. (1) A Nyaya Panchayat shall, after hearing the parties and after considering
the evidence adduced by the parties, record its decision in writing, and may
sentence any offender convicted by it to pay a fine not exceeding fifty rupees:
Provided that if the members of the Nyaya Panchayat present during the trial of a
case fail to come to a unanimous decision, the decision of the majority of such
members shall be the decision of the Nyaya Panchayat: Provided further that in
the case of equality of votes of the members of a Nyaya Panchayat present
during the trial of a case, the Pradhan Vicharak, or the person who is elected as
Pradhan Vicharak for that sitting, shall have a second or casting vote and the
decision of the Nyaya Panchayat shall be in accordance with such second or
casting vote.
(2) No sentence of imprisonment, simple or regorous, whether substantive or in
default of payment of fine shall be awarded by any Nyaya Panchayat.
(3) When a Nyaya Panchayat imposes a fine under sub-section (/), it may, when
passing the order, direct that the whole or any part of the fine recovered shall be
applied in payment of compensation for any loss or injury caused by the offence.
(4) If a Nyaya Panchayat is satisfied that a complaint made before it or
transferred to it for trial is false, vexatious or frivolous, it may order the
complainant to pay to the accused, such compensation not exceeding twenty-five
rupees, as it thinks fit.
(5) If such fine or compensation is not paid or realised within thirty days of the
passing of the sentence or order or within such further time as the Nyaya
Panchayat may allow, the Nyaya Panchayat shall record an order declaring the
amount of fine imposed or compensation awarded and that it has not been paid,
and shall forward the same to the nearest Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate, who
would have had jurisdiction to try the case but for the provisions of this Act, and
the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate shall—
(a) proceed to execute the order as if it were an order passed by himself,
or
Power to
impose fine or
to award
compensation.
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