Lok Adalat (people’s courts), established by the government settles dispute through conciliation and compromise. The First Lok Adalat was held in Chennai in 1986. Lok Adalat accepts the cases which could be settled by conciliation and compromise, and pending in the regular courts within their jurisdiction.
The Lok Adalat is presided over by a sitting or retired judicial officer as the chairman, with two other members, usually a lawyer and a social worker. There is no court fee. If the case is already filed in the regular court, the fee paid will be refunded if the dispute is settled at the Lok Adalat. The procedural laws, and the Evidence Act are not strictly followed while assessing the merits of the claim by the Lok Adalat.
Main condition of the Lok Adalat is that both parties in dispute should agree for settlement. The decision of the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties to the dispute and its order is capable of execution through legal process. No appeal lies against the order of the Lok Adalat.
Lok Adalat is very effective in settlement of money claims. Disputes like partition suits, damages and matrimonial cases can also be easily settled before Lok Adalat as the scope for compromise through an approach of give and take is high in these cases.
Lok Adalat is a boon to the litigant public, where they can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost.
3 comments:
Lok adalat can also be approached directly by the parties concerned as prelitigation and adalat has rights to arrive at the settlement that means to decide the verdict.
If certain party chooses to remain absent continuously without offering opposition, Lok Adalat has rights to dispose off the case considering that settelment has been arrived at.
Can an accused person in a compoundable offence approach lok adalat to settle the difference between himself and the complainant?
the lok adalats have a powers 1. to summon and enforce the attendance of an witness and many examine the witness on oath
2. to cause the discover and production of any document
3. to examine and accept or reject any evidence or allow affidavits
4. to requisition any public record or document or copy thereof ant court or public or private office
5. to do any other thing which are essential for functioning as Lok Adalat
6. to prescribe and specify its own procedure of functioning in the interest of speedy its own procedure of functioning in the interest of speedy reconciliation of disputes.
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