LOK ADALATS

Why in News?:

 Recently, the Chhattisgarh government had launched Lok Adalat in jails for the speedy disposal of cases for the prisoners of the state.

These courts will be held every working Saturday and provide relief to undertrials, and in some cases convicted prisoners, by explaining their rights and legal options such as plea bargaining and settlement.

What is Lok Adalats?

About:

The term ‘Lok Adalat’ means ‘People’s Court’ and is based on Gandhian principles.

As per the Supreme Court, it is an old form of adjudicating system prevalent in ancient India and its validity has not been taken away even in the modern days too.

It is one of the components of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and delivers informal, cheap and expeditious justice to the common people.

The first Lok Adalat camp was organized in Gujarat in 1982 as a voluntary and conciliatory agency without any statutory backing for its decisions.

Jurisdiction:

A Lok Adalat shall have jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties to a dispute in respect of:

Any case pending before any court, or

Any matter which falls within the jurisdiction of any court and is not brought before such court.

Powers:

The Lok Adalat shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure (1908).

Further, a Lok Adalat shall have the requisite powers to specify its own procedure for the determination of any dispute coming before it.

All proceedings before a Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code (1860) and every Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purpose of the Code of Criminal Procedure (1973).

An award of a Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a decree of a Civil Court or an order of any other court.

Benefits:

There is no court fee and if court fee is already paid the amount will be refunded if the dispute is settled at Lok Adalat.

There is procedural flexibility and speedy trial of the disputes. There is no strict application of procedural laws while assessing the claim by Lok Adalat.

The parties to the dispute can directly interact with the judge through their counsel which is not possible in regular courts of law.