Context: The High Court of Karnataka and the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) have created history in settlement of cases.
Key Points

• A record 2,61,882 cases were settled in a single day at the mega Lok Adalat held on December 19.
• This has resulted in a 12.17% reduction of cases pending before courts in taluks and districts, apart from the High Court.
• A total of Rs 669.95 crore was awarded as compensation or settlement amount by amicably resolving cases related to motor vehicle accident claims, land acquisition, and other civil matters.
• The settlements also yielded a revenue of Rs 41.45 crore for the State exchequer by way of fine through the compounding of around two lakh pending criminal cases.

What is a Lok Adalat?

• 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 Lok Adalats are formed to fulfil the promise given by the preamble of the Indian Constitution– securing Justice – social, economic and political of every citizen of India.

Constitutional basis

• Article 39A of the Constitution provides for free legal aid to the deprived and weaker sections of the society and to promote justice on the base of equal opportunity.
• Articles 14 and 22(1) of the Constitution also make it compulsory for the State to guarantee equality before the law.

Statutory provisions

• Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 Lok Adalats have been given statutory status.

Final award:

• The decision made by the Lok Adalats is considered to be a verdict of a civil court and is ultimate and binding on all parties.

No appeal:

• There is no provision for an appeal against the verdict made by Lok Adalat.
• 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.

Court fee:

• There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat. 
• If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settled subsequently, the court fee originally paid in the court on the complaints/petition is also refunded back to the parties.

Nature of Cases to 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 the court. 
• Provided that any matter relating to an offence not compoundable under the law shall not be settled in Lok Adalat.