Source: NALSA

Why in News?

• Recently, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) released its schedule for 2024.

What was the Background of the News?

• NALSA organizes the National Lok Adalats every year across the country under the provisions of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 read with National Legal Services Authority Regulations, 2009.
• NALSA conducts 4 Lok Adalats per year.
• Data of 2021, 2022 and 2023 is as follows:

What is the Scheduled for 2024?

What is National Lok Adalat?

• About:
  • National Lok Adalat is a significant initiative in India's legal system aimed at providing speedy and cost-effective resolution of disputes through alternative means.
  • The concept of Lok Adalats, meaning "people's court," was introduced as a part of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to promote justice at the grassroots level.
• Objectives and Functioning:
  • The primary objective of National Lok Adalat is to encourage the amicable settlement of disputes, thus reducing the burden on conventional courts and promoting access to justice for all sections of society.
  • These adalats operate based on principles of conciliation, mediation, and compromise, where parties voluntarily participate in the resolution process.
• Scope and Jurisdiction
  • National Lok Adalats address a wide range of disputes.
  • They have the authority to settle pending cases as well as those at the pre-litigation stage.
  • The jurisdiction extends to compoundable crimes.
• No Jurisdiction:
  • Lok Adalat has no jurisdiction in respect of matters relating to divorce or matters relating to an offence not compoundable under any law.
• Features and Benefits
  • One of the distinctive features of National Lok Adalats is their emphasis on resolving disputes swiftly and inexpensively.
  • They offer a platform for disputing parties to negotiate and arrive at mutually acceptable solutions, thus fostering community harmony and reducing the backlog of cases in traditional courts.
• Civil Court:
  • Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
  • If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.