Lok Adalats

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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Lok Adalat literally
means Peoples Court</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>It is a forum where disputes/cases
pending in the court or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.
(compoundable offences) </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>The award (decision) made by
the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of
a civil court
and is final and binding on all parties and no
appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. Generally , award given
usually out of mutual consent of the two parties</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>If the parties are not
satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of
appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required
procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Features</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>No court
fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Even the
fee paid in the court is redeemed if the cases are settled in Adalats</li>
<li style='color:#000000;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US><img width=16
height=16 alt=Tricky src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/760013_06c2a583c0c34b17b47620d978f66ccf~mv2.png"> Members of the Lok Adalats(who decides cases in Lok Adalat) ,
they have the role of statutory
conciliators only and do not have any
judicial role [Lok Adalat is non-adjudicatory (conciliatory) in nature
but the proceedings are deemed to be judicial proceedings]</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Permanent
Lok Adalat both
conciliatory and adjudicatory jurisdiction</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Offences which are non-compoundable under
any law are out of the purview of Lok Adalat</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Background</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Lok Adalat is an old form
of adjudicating system prevailed in ancient India </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Since the Indian courts are
overburdened with heavy backlog of cases and even the petty cases takes
years to resolve, Lok Adal
ats
provide alternative resolution devices for expedious and inexpensive
justice</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Provision in the act</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Lok Adalats have been
given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Under the act, the
following provisions are available for Lok Adalats</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>SC Legal Services
Committee or HC Legal Service Committee or State Legal Services
Authority or District Legal Services Authority or Taluk Legal Services
Committee [Note: NALSA is not present] may organise Lok
Adalats at such intervals and places and for exercising such
jurisdiction and for such areas as it thinks fit</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Composition</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Every Lok Adalat
organized for an area shall consists of such number of serving or
retired judicial officer and other persons of the area as may be
specified by the agency organizing such Lok Adalat</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Generally, Lok
Adalat consists of a Judicial officer as the chairman and a lawyer and
a social worker as members</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Jurisdiction</li>
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<li value=1 style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle;
font-weight:bold' lang=en-US>Any case pending before any
court</li>
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lang=en-US>Any matter which is falling within the jurisdiction
of any court and is not brought before such court [Pre-litigation
cases]</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Matters</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US>Matrimonial/family
disputes, Land Acquisition cases, Labour disputes, Workmen's
compensation cases, Bank recovery cases, Pension cases, Housing Board
and Slum clearance cases, Housing finance cases, Consumer Grievance
cases, Electricity, telephone matters, municipal matters, disputes
with Cellular companies etc.</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US>Criminal
(Compoundable offence) Cases </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US>Non Compoundable offences
which are under any law are outside the purview of Lok Adalats</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>When referred to Lok
Adalat</li>
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<li value=1 style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US>The parties thereof agree to settle the dispute in Lok
Adalat</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>One of the parties
thereof makes an application to the court, for referring the case to Lok
Adalat</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Court is satisfied
that the matter is an appropriate one to be taken cognizance of by the
Lok Adalat</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>In case of
Pre-litigation disputes, matter referred to Lok Adalats either by agency
organising Lok Adalat or by the party submitting application </li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Powers</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Lok Adalats shall have
requisite powers to specify its own procedure for the determination of
any dispute</li>
<li style='color:#000000;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US><img width=16
height=16 alt=Tricky src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/760013_06c2a583c0c34b17b47620d978f66ccf~mv2.png"> All
proceedings of Lok Adalat shall be deemed
to be Judicial
Proceedings within the meaning of IPC 1960</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Have same powers as that of Civil Court under Civil Procedure Code CPC 1908</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Have same powers as that of Civil Court under
Criminal Procedure Code CrPC 1973</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Award</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>An award of Lok Adalat
shall be deemed to be a decree of civil court or an order of any other
court</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Every award made by
the court shall be final and
binding
on all the parties to the dispute</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>No appeal shall lie to any court against the award of Lok
Adalat [However, can initiate litigation in courts]</li>
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<h2 style='margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14.0pt;color:#2E75B5'
lang=en-US id="ParivarikMahilaLokAdalatsPMLA">Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats PMLA</h2>
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<li style='color:#000000;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle'
lang=en-US><img width=16
height=16 alt=Tricky src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/760013_06c2a583c0c34b17b47620d978f66ccf~mv2.png"> Evolved by National Commission for Women [Not Ministry of Law and
Justice]</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>For redressal and speedy
disposal of matters related to family and marriage issues.</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Process</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>PMLA works on Lok Adalat
model. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>The NCW  provides
financial assistance to NGOs or State Women Commissions or State Legal
Service Authority to organize the Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>The NGOs approach the DLSA
or District Judge and collect information about pending cases of family
disputes within the district. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Then the DLSA selects women
related cases which are admissible in the Lok Adalat, and makes relevant
files/case papers available to the NGOs. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>NGOs through their
counsellors approach the parties and start counselling prior to the date
of the PMLA to bring them to
settlement. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>If settlement occurs then
the settlement will be noted down on paper in each case and the
signatures of both the parties must be obtained on the document which
will be presented before PMLA for its legal authentication. </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Later the NGOs will
organise PMLA on the specified date on which the cases will be brought
up for settlement</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>The District Judge
will appoint a Presiding Officer, for the PMLA, who should be a Judge
and two or more members who can be judges, advocates or social
activists. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h2 style='margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:14.0pt;color:#2E75B5'
lang=en-US id="PermanentLokAdalats">Permanent Lok Adalats</h2>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Legal Service Authority
Act, 1987 amended in 2002 to provide for establishment of Permanent Lok
Adalat</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Genesis</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>One of the major
drawback is that the Lok Adalat System is based on the
compromise/settlement b/w the parties of the dispute. If the parties do
not arrive at any compromise or settlement, case is either returned to
court of law which defies the purpose of Lok Adalats.</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Therefore, If Lok
Adalats are given power to decide on the merits of the
cases, in
case if the parties are failed to arrive at compromise or settlement,
this problem can be solved to a large extent</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Compromise/settlement
else adjudication </li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Also, for
disputes relating to public utility services, a requirement felt
to settle those disputes without delay so as to provide justice to
people and also reduce workload of regular courts. </li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Features</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Composition</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Chairman and two
members</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Chairman - District
judge or additional judge or judicial office higher in rank than that
of district judge</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Members - Adequate
experience in public utility services</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Jurisdiction</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>In respect of public
utility services such as transport services, services in hospitals or
dispensaries and insurance services</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Jurisdiction upto 10
lakhs and GOI empowered to increase the said limit from time to time</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>After
the dispute referred/applied to Permanent Lok Adalat, no party shall
invoke jurisdiction of any court in the same dispute</li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Award</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>First
conciliation and if failed adjudication</li>
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<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Lok Adalat forms the
possible settlement and submit to the parties. If parties fails to
agree, then the Adalat shall decide the dispute on merit</li>
</ul>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Every award made
shall be final and binding on all parties </li>
<li style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;vertical-align:middle' lang=en-US>Award made by the
majority of persons constituting the Adalat.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>