LOK ADALAT
BY- Shailja tiwari
In the pre independence era Panchayat system was established which with time evolved as Lok Adalat or people’s court.Lok’ suggests the aspect of public sensitive while ‘Adalat’ suggests the accurateand throughdeliberation aspectand both collectivity signify an institution entirely committed to sub serve the aspirations of speedy justice of people with a missionary zeal1. concept of its establishment is based onGandhian Principle of non-violencewhich emphasize that dispute between parties should be settled by compromising with each other.It is oldest form of arbitration that was used to lower burden of court and to spread justice among all, irrespective of their social status and to deliver prompt justice as the procedures and rules laid down in Civil Procedure Court and Evidence Law is not strictly followed.
First Lok Adalat camp was organized in Gujrat, in 1982, after growth in its popularity it was given statutory status under Legal Service Authority Act ,1987. The act aims at providing the functions and organization of Lok Adalat at different level.The organization of Lok Adalat is done by State or district legal service authority or Supremecourt /high court legal service committee at such intervals and place as the case may be.The act also constituted National Legal Service Authority with aim of availing free and competent service to all weaker section, NLSA with other legal service institution conduct Lok Adalat. Every Lok Adalat consist of judicial officers, members and other persons of area, according to the requirement specified by organizing agency, here the judicial officers are the chairman and lawyers and social workers are the members. Lok Adalat have jurisdiction in cases where the case is pending before any court or over such case that are not bought before competent court. Pending cases are heard when either the parties apply for referral of case or the court thinks that the case is of such nature that it can be settled through such body. The procedure to be followed in a case under jurisdiction of Lok Adalat is that,that, firstly an application must be filed by one of the parties to dispute and after receiving the permission by the court the matter is administered to Lok Adalat. there the presiding officer hear both the parties and suggest for compromise, forexpeditious settlement of case. If the parties agree an agreement is made and produced before court, if the court is satisfied, anaward is passed, which is binding on both parties and no appeal lies from such settlement. the award passed by the Lok Adalat has the same power as decree of civil court.
Lok Adalat is the oldest form of arbitration that helps to serve justice equally among all irrespective of their social status as it is free of cost.It also prevents miscarriage of justice by providing justice on time, and reduce burden of traditional courts. In 2023 alone over 1.67 crore cases which include about 32.3 lakh pending case and about 1.4 crore pre-litigation cases were settled. the approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases is Rs 1,223.9 crore2.
