Lok Adalat

Context

The Rajasthan High Court has initiated a suo motu case over non-functioning of at least 16 permanent Lok Adalats in the state.

What are Lok Adalats?

Lok Adalat, meaning “People’s Court,” is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism in India.
It aims to resolve disputes amicably, quickly, and without the formalities of courts.
They are a part of India’s effort to make “access to justice” affordable, informal, and participatory, especially for the poor or those unable to navigate complex legal systems.
It functions under the auspices of the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987 (providing a statutory status).
- The Act empowers the creation of Lok Adalats by the Legal Services Authorities at national, state, district, and taluka levels.
Lok Adalats derive their authority from Article 39A of the Constitution of India, which mandates the state to ensure that the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity.
Lok Adalats can:
- Hear civil cases, including family disputes, money recovery, accident claims, etc.
- Also deal with compoundable criminal cases.
- Decisions are binding and final; no appeal lies against them (though a dissatisfied party may approach a regular court through a fresh suit).
Lok Adalats are voluntary and consensus-based, and promote a non-adversarial model of justice.
Types of Lok Adalats
- Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA)
- National Lok Adalat
- State Lok Adalat
- District Lok Adalat
- Taluk (Tehsil) Lok Adalat
- Mobile Lok Adalat
- Mega Lok Adalat