lok adalat

Lok Adalats are organised by Legal Services Authorities under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. They take up pending cases (referred with the parties’ consent or by the court) and pre-litigation disputes, and try to bring about a settlement. If the parties agree, the Lok Adalat makes an award, which is deemed a decree of a civil court, is final and binding, and is not appealable; court fees paid are refunded.

A Lok Adalat has no power to adjudicate: if there is no compromise, the case goes back to the court. Permanent Lok Adalats for public utility services (Section 22B) are different: they may decide the dispute on merits if conciliation fails.

Example

The motor accident claim was settled before the Lok Adalat, and its award was executed as a decree.

In Indian law

• Sections 19 to 22E, Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
• State of Punjab v. Jalour Singh, 2008 INSC 66: Lok Adalat cannot decide without a compromise

See also

legal aid · alternative dispute resolution · compromise · conciliation

Read more in the study notes

• Lok Adalats and Permanent Lok Adalats (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)
• Letters to the consumer commission, Lok Adalat and RTI applications (Business Communications)
• Methods of dispute resolution: adversarial, inquisitorial and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)
• Need for ADR, international commitments and suitability of disputes (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)
• ADR and the Civil Procedure Code: section 89 and Afcons (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)
• The Mediation Act, 2023: scheme, enforcement and status (Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems)