Question

What is meant by a Lok Adalat? How do the Lok Adalats function?

Answer 1

Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms. They have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at the pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.

Functioning:

The Chairman and the Members of Permanent Lok Adalat guide the parties to the dispute to amicably resolve the dispute. If the parties to the dispute compromise the dispute is adjudicated as per the conditions of the compromise. If conciliation fails and if the dispute is not in respect of any offense after recording the evidence of both the parties, the Chairman and the members give unanimous or majority verdict.