Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 4 times

Lok Adalat

India's Indigenous ADR Mechanism

Lok Adalat ("People's Court") is the most distinctly Indian ADR mechanism, rooted in Gandhian principles of voluntary settlement. Established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Lok Adalats operate at national, state, district, and taluka levels under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs).

Key details

Statutory basis: Section 19, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
NALSA established: Under Section 3 of the same Act; statutory authority
Jurisdiction: Can take pre-litigation disputes and matters pending before courts; covers both civil and compoundable criminal cases
Award: Final and binding; deemed a decree of a civil court; no appeal lies to any court
Court fee: Refunded to parties if a pending case is settled through Lok Adalat
Permanent Lok Adalats: Under Chapter VI-A of the Act (added in 2002); handle public utility services; Presiding Officer is a retired judge
National Lok Adalat: Held periodically; simultaneous sittings across the country
2024 data: 4.75 crore cases disposed across 4 National Lok Adalats; pre-litigation cases exceeded pending cases for first time