Consider the following with reference to lsquo Lok Adalats rsquo 1 The award made by the Lok Adalats...........

Indian Polity Judiciary

Consider the following with reference to ‘Lok Adalats’:

1. The award made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court.

2. It is a forum where cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled amicably.

3. Lok Adalats are constitutional bodies mentioned in Part XIV-A of the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

1 and 2 only

Statements 1 and 2 are correct:

NALSA along with other Legal Services Institutions conducts Lok Adalats.
Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, it is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.
The persons deciding the cases in the Lok Adalats are called the Members of the Lok Adalats, they have the role of statutory conciliators only and do not have any judicial role; therefore they can only persuade the parties to come to a conclusion for settling the dispute outside the court in the Lok Adalat and shall not pressurize or coerce any of
the parties to compromise or settle cases or matters either directly or indirectly.
Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.
Statement 3 is not correct: Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Part XIV-A of the Constitution deals with ‘Tribunals’.