 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2013) |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1987 |
| Jurisdiction | Supreme Court of India |
| Status | Active |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | https://nalsa.gov.in/home |
Lok Adalat[2] is a Statutory Organization under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and was created as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in India to resolve disputes/grievances outside the conventional court system.[3] It is a forum where cases pending before panchayat, or at a pre-litigation stage in a court of law, are settled. Under this Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a civil court case and is final and binding on all parties. No formal appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. However, if the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat they are still free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction.[4]
1987 with a statutory status for using alternative dispute redressal mechanisms.[5] The first Lok Adalats were held in Gujarat[6] in 1982 and in Chennai in 1986.
Section 22 B of The Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 provides for the establishment of Permanent Lok Adalats (PLA) for exercising jurisdiction in respect of one or more public utility services (PUS). Section 22 A of The Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 states what constitutes 'Public Utility Services' for the purpose of Permanent Lok Adalat.[7]
Lok Adalats are constituted at below levels-National, State, District, and Taluk:[5][8]
- State Authorities.
- High Court.
- District and Taluk level.
Types of Lok Adalat:
- Permanent Lok Adalat - Provides a mechanism for disposing of cases relating to public utility services, transport, postal, and telegraph.
- National Lok Adalat - Since 2015, these have been held every month on specific topics across India. They are held on a single day disposing of a large number of pending cases.
- Mega Lok Adalat - Held across all courts in the state on a single day.
- Mobile Lok Adalats - These types of Lok Adalats are organized occasionally, and they travel from one place to another across the country to help resolve disputes.
Lok Adalats come under National Legal Services Authority[9] and the respective State Legal Services Authority.[10]
The office of NALSA is located at 12/11, Jam Nagar House, New Delhi-110011.[11]
- ^ "National Legal Services Authority". NALSA. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ "Lok Adalat (Peoples Court)". 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ "Lok Adalat". nalsa.gov.in. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "Lok Adalat". nalsa.gov.in. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
- ^ a b "Lok Adalats unclog a choked justice delivery system". Deccan Herald. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ yash, Agarwal (5 December 2020). "have-lok-adalats-performed-and-worked-as-it-should". theleaflet.in. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Permanent Lok Adalat" (PDF). Haryana State Legal Services Authority.
- ^ "Scores of People Become Entitled to Legal Aid in SC as Govt Triples Income Criteria". news18.com. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Lok Adalat". nalsa.gov.in. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "LOK ADALAT | Delhi State Legal Services Authority". dslsa.org. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
- ^ "Free legal aid is crucial right granted by Constitution; SCs, STs, women among categories of people eligible for provision". firstpost.com. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.