Context:
Supreme Court to organize Special Lok Adalat on 75th year of its establishment for dispute settlement
Lok Adalat:
- One of the components of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and delivers informal, cheap and expeditious justice to the common people.
- Based on Gandhian principles.
- Covered under – Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
- State/District Legal Services Authority or the Supreme Court/High Court/Taluk Legal Services Committee may organise Lok Adalats as it thinks fit
- Guided by – Principles of natural justice.
- Not bound by Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908 and Indian Evidence Act 1872.
- Composition – Shall consist of such number of serving or retired judicial officers and other persons of the area as may be specified by the agency organising.
- Powers – Has same powers as a civil court under CPC, 1908.
- Decision made by Lok Adalat is final and binding
- No appeal can be made against its decision.
- Cases that can be referred to Lok Adalat –
- Any case pending before any court
- Any dispute which has not been brought before any court and is likely to be filed before court.
- Lok Adalat shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any case or matter relating to an offence not compoundable under any law.
- 1st Lok Adalat – Held in 1982 at Junagarh, Gujarat
- Benefits –
- There is no court fee
- No strict application of procedural laws
- Parties to the dispute can directly interact with the judge through their counsel which is not possible in regular courts of law.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens?
1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs. 1,00,000
2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs. 2,00,000
3. Member of Other Backward Classes (OBC) with an annual income of less than Rs. 3,00,000
4. All Senior Citizens
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 4 only
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 3 is incorrect. There is no such provision of free legal aid specifically for OBC.
Statement 4 is incorrect. The free Legal Aid is not available for free for all senior citizens.
