Lok Adalat: What Does It Do?

The Lok Adalat of International Consumer Rights Protection Council is also known as people’s court. It was established by the government settles dispute through compromise and conciliation. In the year 1986 the first Lok Adalat in Chennai was held. The people’s court or the Lok Adalat accepts the cases which can be settled by conciliation and compromise. It also accepts those cases which are pending in the regular courts within their jurisdiction.

The retired judicial officer by the sitting presides over the Lok Adalat as the chairman. He is accompanied by two other members, a social worker and a lawyer. No court fee is applicable for the cases and the court.

If the case is filed in any regular court then the fee will be refunded if the case gets settled at the Lok Adalat. The procedural laws and the Evidence Act are not severely followed while evaluating the intrinsic worth of the claim by the Lok Adalat.

To file a case in the Lok Adalat the main criteria is that both the parties should agree for the settlement of the dispute. The decision of the Lok Adalat is obligatory on the parties to the disagreement and its order is competent of implementation through legal process. No petition lies in opposition to the order of the Lok Adalat.

If there is any settlement required regarding money claims the Lok Adalat is very effective in such matters. Other disputes like partition claims, matrimonial cases and damage can also be brought into settlement before the Lok Adalat as a scope for finding the middle ground through a come within reach of give and take is high in these cases.

For litigant public the Lok Adalat is most effective as they can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost.