STUDY ON LOK ADALAT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHENNAI

Lok Adalat is recognized as a statutory body under the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 and the award or decision of the Lok Adalats is treated as a civil dispute and is final and enforceable by both parties. Such a decision cannot be appealed to the court if there is no such provision. However, by approaching a court of competent jurisdiction, either party can initiate litigation if any of them is not satisfied with the decision of the Lok Adalat (if there is no provision for appeal or decision). Lok Adalat is an arrangement of mollification or discussion. It is otherwise called ‘individuals’ court’. Lok Adalat is a discussion where the cases (or questions) which are forthcoming in a court or which are at the pre-prosecution stage are compromised or gotten comfortable in a friendly way. Lok Adalats for effective and speedy justice]. The persons residing over these Adalats include serving or retired judicial officials as well as other persons as prescribed by the authority conducting the Lok Adalats in the given area. There is compromise out of necessity rather than will. This can be related due to the issues in our legal system and therefore it is difficult to deem this as a fair chance. Hence, it is rather difficult to say that the Lok Adalats have passed the test for providing access to “justice” to the poor. With finality, one can conclude that there is more than meets the eye which can be done to make Lok Adalats a better redressal system towards rising litigation.