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                        LOK ADALAT                              

In the recent times Lok Adalats had grown well as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the system became very popular too. The very expression ?Lok Adalat? means ?People?s Court?.  This system is more based on morality and honesty, the real pillars of our traditional society.

Chapter VI of the Legal Services Authority Act deals with ?Lok Adalat?.  Though Lok Adalat is not defined under the Act, its composition, power and functioning are stipulated in Sections 19 to 22 of the Act.

?Lok Adalats? are being organized by

(a) Supreme Court Legal Services Committee;

(b) State Legal Services Authority;

(c) High Court Legal Services Committee;

(d) District Legal Services Authority;

(e) Permanent Lok Adalat for Public Utility Services.

(f) Taluq Legal Services Committee.

All disputes which are sub judice and even disputes which have not reached the courts can be settled in ?Lok Adalat?.  Lok Adalat, strictly speaking is neither a court nor a substitute of judicial system. IT is just a forum provided for speedy and efficacious disposal of disputes / cases. It acts as a supplement to the system with an avowed motive of providing less expensive, more efficacious and speedy disposal of disputes.  Lok Adalats are more or less forums for conciliation and are being guided by Judges, members of the legal profession, social workers or persons engaged in para legal activities.

Cases pending in any court can be referred to ?Lok Adalat? when both parties agree for such reference or when one of the parties desire it and the court is also satisfied of the prospects of its settlement, or when the court itself desires its reference.  Lok Adalats are intended to resolve disputes by mutual settlement and / or by compromise, as a result of which the procedural and technical requirements like summoning witnesses, discovery of documents, etc., etc., which are time-consuming factors are avoided.  Lok Adalats can specify its own procedure. All that counts is speedy, easy economical and mutual settlement of inter se  disputes by consent of parties. Settlement reached in Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a court.  No appeal is permissible against such award.  Thus a lot of time is saved and the decision  attains finality. It is needless to say, if settlement is not arrived at in Lok Adalat, a matter is sent back to the appropriate court for adjudication. The methods adopted in Lok Adalat are not only flexible, but hey are also according to parties desire, the object being expeditious settlement of disputes and not to stand on formalities and / or technicalities. But then, members always maintain fairness and equity, so that a decision is not thrust upon the a weaker party.       

The Legal Services Authorities Act has been amended inserting Chapter VI A.  The Chapter deals with Permanent Lok Adalat for Public Utility Services.  The amendment is very much useful and helpful to the public to resolve their disputes pertaining to various Public Utility Services.  In the Act, the following Public Utility Services have been defined as Public Utility Services for the purpose of Chapter VI A. 

(i) transport service for the carriage of passengers               or goods by air, road or water; or

(ii) postal, telegraph or telephone service; or

(iii) supply of power, light or water to the public                 by any establishment ; or

(iv) system of public conservancy or sanitation; or

(v) service in hospital or dispensary; or

(vi) insurance service,