Meaning of Lok Adalat
Lok Adalats, also known as people’s courts and a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in India. They are a non-adversarial, informal, and community based approach to resolving disputes.
It is a legal system where disputes pending in courts or at pre-litigation stage are settled or compromised by a panel of retired judges, legal professionals, or social activists.
Concept of Lok Adalat
The concept of Lok Adalats was introduced in India in 1987 as a part of the Legal Services Authorities Act. The objective was to provide a speedy, inexpensive, and effective system for resolution of disputes, particularly those of a civil nature, through the mediation and conciliation.
The Lok Adalat system aims to provide a speedy, inexpensive, and informal means of settling disputes outside the traditional court system.
Participation in Lok Adalat is voluntary and the decision reached is binding on the parties. The panel of judges or legal professionals presiding over the Lok Adalat tries to arrive at a mutually acceptable settlement between the parties.
If a settlement is reached, it is reduced to writing and signed by the parties, and becomes a decree of the court. If a settlement is not reached, the matter is referred to the regular court for adjudication.
Lok Adalats can hear cases which are pending in courts, as well as those which are pre-litigation disputes. They have the power to settle disputes through a compromise or settlement agreement, which is binding on the parties and has the same legal force as a decree of a court.
Lok Adalat has been successful in resolving a wide range of disputes, including civil, criminal, matrimonial, and compoundable cases. It has also been instrumental in reducing the backlog of cases in the traditional court system, thereby improving access to justice for the common man.
Growth of Lok Adalat
The growth of Lok Adalats in India has been significant. They have become an integral part of the legal system and have helped to reduce the backlog of cases in the courts. According to the National Legal Services Authority, Lok Adalats have settled more than 34 million cases since their inception.
Additionally, the Lok Adalat system has gained popularity among the general public due to its low cost and informal nature. It provides a platform for parties to resolve their disputes in a non-adversarial manner, without the need for lengthy and expensive litigation.
