Lok Adalat

Lok Adalat is a statutory organization in India, under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It was created as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in India to resolve disputes/grievances outside the conventional court system. It is a forum where cases pending before panchayat, or at a pre-litigation stage in a court of law, are settled. Under this Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a civil court case and is final and binding on all parties. No formal appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. However, if the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat they are still free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction. The first Lok Adalats were held in Gujarat in 1982 and in Chennai in 1986.