Lok Adalat is a dispute redressal mechanism to resolve disputes pending cases in the court of law for disposal of civil and criminal compoundable criminal cases or at the pre-litigation stage that are settled amicably.
Lok Adalat has been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. NALSA’s goal is, to promote a people-friendly and people-centric Legal Aid system, organized the second National Lok Adalat (NLA) for the year 2022 today.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) successfully organized The Lok Adalat in both physical and hybrid modes in 24 States/UTs across the country.
The Legal Services Authorities under the able guidance of Hon’ble Executive Chairman, NALSA across the countries have recorded unprecedented disposal figures during the last National Lok Adalats of 2021 and first NLA of 2022.
The Executive Chairman and the Supreme Court Judge Justice Lalit were accompanied by Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.M. Magrey, Judge, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) & Ladakh, and many other important officers of State Legal Service Authority of J&K. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, inaugurated the National Lok Adalat in the District Court Complex, Srinagar (J & K).
During the occasion, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit spoke on the need for easy and accessible legal help to common men so that common people are encouraged to actively participate in the process.
Later Hon’ble Justice also interacted with litigants from the poor class of society as they too are a chain in the society. He expressed good signs to see a large of satisfied litigants who expressed their happiness over Lok Adalat that settled their disputes within a short frame of time.
During the same occasion, Justice U.U. Lalit handed over a cheque of ₹ 1.2 crores to the victim’s father of an accident who is in a coma for the last 4-5 years & struggling for survival. Besides, he also handed over some other cheques, and beneficiaries who received those cheques were glad to have their cheques of settlement given.
National Lok Adalat is held at regular intervals of 3 months, the best part is that in a single day Lok Adalat is held throughout the country even at Taluk Levels.
The Maharashtra, Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli have successfully conducted the Lok Adalat on 07th May 2022, while Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands will organize on 26th June 2022. The Goa state is planning to organize a LokAdalat on 25th June 2022.
After the end of the program, the figures speak that about 56.82 lacs matters have been reported to be settled, including 8.53 lacs pending cases and 48.29 lacs pre-litigation cases.
The total value of the settlement is reportedly ₹ 2648.43 crores. The said disposal would result in easing the burden of the pending cases.
Under the said Legal Services Authorities Act, the award decisions made by the Lok Adalats are to be a decree of a civil court and are final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat. If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settled subsequently, the court fee originally paid in the court on the complaints/petition is also refunded back to the parties.
