Lok Adalat is an important Alternative Disputes Resolution Mechanism available to common people, where the disputes/ cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/compromised amicably
The government highlighted the role of Lok Adalats as a key Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for pre-litigation and court-pending cases, alongside legislative reforms to reduce pendency
Legislative amendments to speed up dispute resolution include: Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act 2018, Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act 2018, Specific Relief (Amendment) Act 2018, Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act 2019, and Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2018
The first National Lok Adalat of 2026 was scheduled for March 14, 2026, covering High Courts, district courts, tribunals, consumer forums, and Permanent Lok Adalats nationwide
In 2025, four National Lok Adalats collectively resolved over 14.84 crore cases
India's total judicial pendency exceeds 5 crore cases across all courts, making ADR mechanisms a critical governance and access-to-justice priority
Lok Adalat: Legal Framework and Types
Lok Adalat is established under Chapter VI (Sections 19-22) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It is a form of ADR where disputes pending in court or at the pre-litigation stage are settled through conciliation and compromise. A settlement at Lok Adalat carries the force of a civil court decree under the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), is final, and cannot be challenged in appeal.
Key Details
- Types of Lok Adalats:
- Regular/State Lok Adalats: organised by State/District Legal Services Authorities for both pre-litigation and pending cases
- National Lok Adalats: held quarterly on a single day across all courts simultaneously (from Supreme Court to Taluka level)
- Permanent Lok Adalats: established at district level for public utility services (telecom, insurance, transport, hospitals, electricity) — compulsory pre-litigation mechanism under Section 22-B
- Eligible cases: civil matters, compoundable criminal offences (motor accident claims, matrimonial disputes except divorce, labour disputes, etc.); non-compoundable offences cannot be settled
- Benefits: free service, quick resolution, no appeal, court fee refunded, mutually agreed outcome
The government's emphasis on Lok Adalats alongside legislative reforms reflects a two-track strategy — reducing new pendency creation through faster court processes, and clearing existing backlog through ADR.
Legislative Reforms to Reduce Judicial Pendency
India's chronic judicial pendency (5+ crore cases) stems from inadequate judge-to-population ratios, procedural delays, and a litigation-heavy culture. The government has enacted a series of amendments targeting specific high-pendency categories:
Key Details
- Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Act, 2018: amended Section 138 (cheque dishonour) cases to enable early hearing; cheque bounce cases constitute millions of pending cases
- Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018: enabled commercial courts at district level to handle high-value commercial disputes; reduced High Court burden
- Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018: allowed courts to direct specific performance of contracts more readily (reduced prolonged litigation on breach of contract)
- Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019: introduced time limits for completion of arbitral proceedings (12 months extendable by 6 months) and created the Arbitration Council of India
- India's judge-to-population ratio: approximately 21 judges per million population (Law Commission recommended 50 per million)
These specific legislative reforms address the most litigation-dense areas of civil disputes, enabling faster resolution within courts and incentivising parties to use ADR as an alternative.
Arbitration as a Commercial ADR Tool
Arbitration is the dominant ADR mechanism for commercial disputes in India, governed by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law). Unlike Lok Adalats (which require consent), arbitration can be mandatory through contract clauses. India has been reforming its arbitration framework since 2015 to position itself as an international arbitration hub.
Key Details
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996: domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and enforcement of foreign awards
- 2015 Amendment: introduced fast-track arbitration, limited court intervention, and time limits
- 2019 Amendment: established the Arbitration Council of India, introduced confidentiality provisions, and further tightened timelines
- New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Act, 2019: established NDIAC as a statutory centre for international commercial arbitration
- Section 29A: mandates completion of arbitral awards within 12 months of completion of pleadings (extendable)
The 2019 arbitration amendment is one of the key legislative pillars in the government's ADR push; together with Lok Adalats, mediation, and Permanent Lok Adalats, it forms a comprehensive alternative justice framework aimed at reducing pressure on the formal court system.
- India's total judicial pendency: over 5 crore cases (across all courts)
- India's judge-to-population ratio: approximately 21 per million (recommended: 50 per million)
- First National Lok Adalat 2026: March 14, 2026
- 2025 National Lok Adalats performance: 14.84 crore cases resolved (4 adalats)
- Permanent Lok Adalats: established under Section 22-B for public utility services
- Arbitration time limit (Section 29A): 12 months from completion of pleadings (extendable by 6 months)
- Key amendments: Negotiable Instruments (2018), Commercial Courts (2018), Specific Relief (2018), Arbitration (2019)
- Lok Adalat award: final and binding; no court fee; no appeal; deemed civil court decree