Lok Adalat
Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 and NALSA
Lok Adalat ("People's Court") is India's most distinctive ADR mechanism, rooted in Gandhian principles of conciliation. It provides a fast, free, and final dispute resolution avenue with no appeal available against Lok Adalat awards.
- Statutory basis: Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 (came into force 9 November 1995).
- NALSA (National Legal Services Authority): Apex body for legal services and Lok Adalats — established at Centre level; mirrors: SALSA (State), DALSA (District), TALSA (Taluk).
- Award of Lok Adalat: Deemed a decree of civil court; final and binding; no appeal; no court fees payable.
- Court fees refund: If a pending matter is referred to Lok Adalat and settled, court fees paid are refunded in full.
- Types: Regular Lok Adalats (periodic); Permanent Lok Adalats (for public utility services); National Lok Adalats (held simultaneously across all courts on a single day).
- National Lok Adalat: Periodically held across all courts; high settlement rates for motor accident claims, cheque bounce cases, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce), and labour disputes.
- Eligible matters: All pending cases in courts or at pre-litigation stage, including criminal compoundable offences; non-compoundable criminal offences cannot be referred.
● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen April 27, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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