What are Lok Adalats?
Historically, Nyaya Panchayats and Gram Panchayats used to resolve disputes quickly in rural areas.
Generally any offense or civil dispute The settlement was done at the village level itself.
Similarly, Lok Adalat also performs the same role and enjoys legal recognition.
Lok Adalats are an alternative mechanism,a forum or a forum for the settlement of a dispute. am amicable of cases not settled, as pending or litigated in court manner is settled.
NALSA organizes Lok Adalats in association with other legal services institutions.Statutory status has been given to Lok Adalats under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The award given by the Lok Adalats under the said Act is final and binding on all the parties.This decision cannot be appealed against in any court.
There is no court fee of any kind in Lok Adalats.
The Lok Adalat is presided over by a sitting or retired judicial officer.Lok Adalat can only ask the parties to come to a conclusion for settlement of the dispute out of court. and shall not pressurize any party to settle or settle the matter.Members shall assist both the parties in an independent and impartial manner in their endeavor to amicably settle the dispute.The procedural laws and the Evidence Act are not strictly followed while assessing the claim by the Lok Adalat.
Nature of cases referred to Lok Adalat
A matter which is pending in any court.Any dispute in respect of which a suit has not been filed in any court of law And a law suit is likely to be filed.Provided that no matter relating to any such offense shall be settled in the Lok Adalat.which is not resolvable under the law.Relevance of Lok Adalats Lok Adalats, which settle disputes through conciliation and settlement, are one of India's contributions to world jurisprudence.The Lok Adalat system helps in decentralization of the judicial system to the lowerlevel.Disputes relating to (damage) and(marriage) can be easily settled in Lok Adalat as there is more scope for mutual settlement in such cases.
Mobile Lok Adalats are also organized indifferent parts of the country which keep moving from one place to another so that disputes can be resolved easily through this system.In the backlog of cases in higher courts There is a steady increase and Lok Adalats In easing the pressure on these courts Can definitely contribute.Apart from Lok Adalats, the government has also started Pro Bono Legal Services. Tele-Law Service and Nyaya Mitra (person who helps in justice)system which aims at 'Digital Inclusion' of the poor. ' and use technology to bring justice to the marginalizedsections.
How is it different from regular/traditional courts?
There is no provision for any kind of court fee in these courts. That is, they are free.The basic effort of Lok Adalats is to bring about a settlement between the disputed parties, where as this is not the case in regular courts.In the Lok Adalats, the persons of the disputed parties have the right to present their case.
Conclusion:-
Lok Adalat has always been needed in a country like India and it performs an important function in the country due to many reasons like pending cases, illiteracy etc.The concept of Lok Adalat has been successful in practice and it plays an important role in adopting the Gandhian principle of 'Gram Swaraj' to promote and strengthen' equitable access to justice'.
