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LOK ADALAT

 

LOK ADALAT

Why in News

Lok Adalat has emerged as the most efficacious tool of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

About

• The term ‘Lok Adalat’ means ‘People’s Court’ and is based on Gandhian principles.
• It is one of the components of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and delivers informal, cheap and expeditious justice to the common people.
• The first Lok Adalat camp was organized in Gujarat in 1982.
• It was given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• Lok Adalat organized for an area shall consist of such number of serving or retired judicial officers and other persons of the area .
• National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) along with other Legal Services Institutions conducts Lok Adalats.
• A Lok Adalat shall have jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties.
• Any case pending before the court can be referred to the Lok Adalat for settlement.
• The offenses which are non-compoundable under any law fall outside the purview of the Lok Adalat.
• The Lok Adalat shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure (1908).
• There is no court fee and if court fee is already paid the amount will be refunded if the dispute is settled at Lok Adalat.
• There is procedural flexibility and speedy trial of the disputes.
• There is procedural flexibility and speedy trial of the disputes.
• The award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties and it has the status of a decree of a civil court and it is non-appealable.