News: Supreme Court to organize Special Lok Adalat on 75th year of its establishment for dispute settlement
About Lok Adalat:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) System: Provides informal, inexpensive, and speedy justice.
- Based on: Gandhian principles.
- Covered under: Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- Organizers: State/District Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court/High Court/Taluk Legal Services Committee.
- Guiding Principle: Principles of natural justice.
- Not Bound by: Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
- Composition: Includes serving or retired judicial officers and other specified persons.
- Powers: Equivalent to a civil court under CPC, 1908.
- Finality: Decisions are final and binding; no appeal is allowed.
- Jurisdiction: Covers pending court cases and potential disputes not yet filed.
- Limitation: Cannot handle cases of non-compoundable offences.
- Inception: First Lok Adalat held in 1982 at Junagarh, Gujarat.
- Benefits: No court fees, relaxed procedural laws, direct interaction between parties and judge through counsel.
