National Legal Services Authority organised the 3rd National Lok Adalat of the year 2024 in the Taluks, Districts and High Courts of 27 States/UTs.It was organised under the stewardship of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA.
Key Highlights of the 3rd National Lok Adalat 2024
- Number of Cases Settled: Over 1.14 crore cases were resolved during the 3rd National Lok Adalat 2024. It is a big step towards reducing the burgeoning pendency in courts.
- Breakdown of the Settled Cases: Of the 1,14,56,529 cases settled in the Lok Adalat, 94,60,864 were pre-litigation cases and 19,95,665 were cases pending in various courts.
- Types of Cases Settled: The cases include criminal compoundable offences, traffic challans, revenue cases, bank recovery cases, motor accident claims, cheque dishonour cases, labour disputes, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce cases), land acquisition cases, intellectual property rights, and other civil cases.
- Financial Value of Settlement: The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases was Rs 8,482.08 crore.
- Positive Public Response: The event saw overwhelming participation, reflecting strong public trust in Lok Adalats. It aligns with the objectives set out in the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the National Legal Services Authority (Lok Adalats) Regulations, 2009.
Lok Adalat
- Lok Adalat, or People’s Court, is a forum designed for settling disputes either pending in court or at the pre-litigation stage through compromise or amicable settlement.The Supreme Court emphasises that Lok Adalat is an ancient Indian system of adjudication that still holds relevance today, rooted in Gandhian principles.It forms a part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system, which seeks to relieve the burdened Indian courts.
- Objective: Its purpose is to provide quick, inexpensive justice without the lengthy and expensive procedures common in regular courts.In Lok Adalat, there are no victors or losers, making it a harmonious approach to dispute resolution.
- Historical Development: The first Lok Adalat camp in independent India was held in Gujarat in 1982, where its success in settling disputes led to its spread nationwide.
- Legal Framework: Initially functioning as a voluntary institution without legal authority, the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 provided statutory status to Lok Adalats.This Act gave the institution the authority to pass awards with the same effect as a court decree.
- Organising Agencies: Lok Adalats can be organised by NALSA, State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, High Court Legal Services Committee, or Taluk Legal Services Committee at intervals and places they deem necessary.
- Composition: A Lok Adalat typically includes a judicial officer (chairman), a lawyer, and a social worker.
Jurisdiction
- Lok Adalat has jurisdiction over disputes including pending court cases and pre-litigation matters that fall under the jurisdiction of courts.
- It deals with various cases such as matrimonial disputes, compoundable criminal offences, labour disputes, bank recovery, housing, and consumer grievances.
- Lok Adalat does not have jurisdiction over non-compoundable offences, such as serious criminal cases, as these cannot be settled through compromise.
- Referral of Cases to Lok Adalat: Cases can be referred to Lok Adalat if
- the parties thereof agree to settle the dispute in the Lok Adalat.
- one of the parties thereof makes an application to the court referring the case to the Lok Adalat.
- The court is satisfied that the matter is an appropriate one to take cognizance of by the Lok Adalat.
- Pre-Litigation Referral: Pre-litigation disputes can be referred upon receiving an application from any of the parties involved, ensuring that disputes are addressed before they reach the court system.
Powers:
- The Lok Adalat shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 while trying a suit in respect of the following matters.
- The summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness.
- The discovery and production of any document.
- Receiving evidence on affidavits.
- Requisitioning public records or documents from courts or offices.
Proceedings of Lok Adalat
- Self-Determined Procedure: Lok Adalat can specify its own procedures for settling disputes, making the process flexible and informal compared to formal courts.
- Judicial Proceedings: All Lok Adalat proceedings are deemed judicial proceedings under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023) and have the status of a Civil Court under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023).
Binding Nature of Awards
- Decree of Civil Court: Awards made by Lok Adalat have the status of a decree of a civil court and are final and binding on the parties.
- Non-Appealable: Awards cannot be appealed in any court, ensuring the quick resolution of disputes without the delays caused by lengthy appeals.