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Lok Adalats
February4,2015byraghavi LeaveaComment
ByOysheeGupta(CNLUPatna)&SuhaasArora(RGNUL,Patiala)
EDITORSNOTE:
ThispiecediscussesthedisputeresolutionmechanismthatisknownasLokAdalats.
InstitutedundertheLegalServicesAuthoritiesActof1987,LokAdalatsbeckonthebright
futureofalternatedisputeresolutionsinIndia.Theinstitutionhasattractedsufficientsupport
foritsemphasisonaccountabilityanditslitigantfriendlyapproach.Thisalsodrawsattention
totheneedfordecongestionofthejusticesystemsoastomakeitmoreaccessibleaswell
asconducivetospeedydeliveryofjustice.
INTRODUCTION
Anyconflictislikecancer.Thesooneritisresolved,thebetteritisforthepartiesinvolved
andthesocietyingeneral.Theconflictgrowsatanexponentialrateifitisnotresolvedatthe
veryfirststage.Onedisputeleadstoanotheranditisthusbettertoresolveitthevery
momentitarises.Themethodtoachievethisgoalmustbeagreeduponbyboththeparties
involved.Thestateofuncertaintyandindecisivenessshouldbeasbriefaspossible.
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TheConstitutionofIndiahasdefinedanddeclaredtosecuretoallthecitizensofIndia,
Justicesocial,economicandpoliticallibertyequalityandfraternityasthecommongoalfor
itscitizens.TheeternalvalueofconstitutionalismliesintheRuleofLaw,whichhasthree
facets:RulebyLaw,RuleunderLawandRuleaccordingtoLaw.[i]
AlternatedisputeResolution(ADR)originatedintheUSAasanendeavourtofindalternatives
tothetraditionallegalsystemthatwasregardedasadversarial,costly,unpredictable,rigid,
overprofessionalized,damagingtorelationships,andlimitedtonarrowrightsbased
remediesasopposedtocreativeproblemsolving.TheAmericanoriginsoftheconceptare
notsurprising,givencertainfeaturesoflitigationinthatsystem,suchas:trialsofcivilactions
byajury,lawyerscontingencyfees,lackofapplicationinfulloftheruletheloserpaysthe
costs.[ii]
Kinds Of ADR
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AwiderangeofdisputepreventionandresolutionproceduresexistinIndiathatallowthe
participantstodevelopafair,costeffective,andprivateforumtoresolvedisputes.AllADR
mechanismsavailableinthecountrycanbebroadlydiscussedattwolevels:[v]
1)Thosewhichareapplicablethroughoutthecountry&
2)Thosewhichareavailableatthestate/UTleveltodealwithspecificproblemsarising
undertheirjurisdiction.
ThefollowingaremodelsforADRasprototypesforuseindisputeredressalexiston
nationallevel:
Tribunals,commissions,boards,etc.
LokAdalats
NyayaPanchayats
Arbitration
Conciliation
Ombudsman
FastTrackCourts
TRIBUNALS:
Article323BwasaddedtotheConstitutiontoauthorizethelegislaturetoestablishtribunal,
commissions,districtboards,etc.,fortheadjudicationortrialofanydisputes,complaintsor
offenseswithrespecttoanymatters.[vi]
LOKADALATS:
LokAdalatorthePeoplesCourts,decidethedisputewithutmostexpeditiontoarriveata
compromiseorsettlementonthebasisofprinciplesofjustice,equity,fairplayandotherlegal
principles.WhentheLokAdalatisnotabletoarriveatacompromiseorsettlement,the
recordofthecaseisreturnedtotheCourt,whichinitiallyreferredthecasetotheLok
Adalats.TheLokAdalatispresidedoverbyasittingorretiredjudicialofficerasthe
chairman,withtwoothermembers,usuallyalawyerandasocialworker.[vii]
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NYAYPANCHAYATS
Invillages,theadministrationiscarriedoutbyaPanchayatheadedbyvillageheadmanthat
decidespettycivil,criminalandrevenuecases.Therespectablemembersofthevillage
communityformthePanchayat,whereforthosewhopreferit,disputesareresolvedbya
processofconciliationandmediation.
ARBITRATION
SettlementofdisputesbyarbitrationhasbeenpracticedinIndiafromthedistantpastandthe
legalliteraturetellsusoftheancientsystemofarbitrationforresolvingdisputesconcerning
thefamily,orthetradeorasocialgroup[viii].TheConstitutionofIndiaalsomandatesitasa
DirectivePrincipleofStatePolicythattheStateshouldencouragesettlementofinternational
disputesbyarbitration.[ix]
CONCILIATION
Thereisnotalotofdifferencebetweenmediationandconciliation.Mediationisoneofthe
methodsbywhichconciliationisachieved.Conciliationisessentiallyaconsensualprocess.
[x]UnderPartIIIoftheArbitrationandConciliationAct,1996,Section61to81providesfor
methodofconciliationofdisputesarisingoutoflegalrelationship,whethercontractualornot.
[xi]
OMBUDSMAN
Incertaininformaldisputes,athirdpartyombudspersonisappointedbytheorganisationto
investigatecomplaintswithintheinstitutionandpreventdisputesorfacilitatetheirresolution.
TheOmbudspersonmayusevariousADRmechanismsintheprocessofresolvingdisputes.
[xii]
TheSwedishlegislaturefirstcreatedthepositionofombudspersonintheearly1800sthe
literaltranslationofombudspersonisaninvestigatorofcitizencomplaints.Thisofficialwas
consideredtobeapersonofknownlegalabilityandoutstandingintegrityandwaschosen
bytheSwedishparliamenttoserveafouryearterm.[xiii]
FASTTRACKCOURTS
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TheEleventhFinanceCommissionrecommendedaschemeforcreationof1734FastTrack
Courts(FTCs)inthecountryforspeedydisposalofthependingcases.TheMinistryof
FinancesanctionedanamountofRs.502.90croresasspecialproblemandupgradation
grantforjudicialadministration.Theschemewasforaperiodof5years.TheFinance
CommissionDivision(FCD),MinistryofFinancereleasedfundsdirectlytotheState
GovernmentsundertheschemeofFastTrackCourts.Itistheprimaryresponsibilityofthe
StateGovernmentstoestablishtheseCourtsinconsultationwiththeconcernedHighCourts.
[xiv]
Atotalof1,734suchCourtsareexpectedtobesetupbytheGovernmentofIndiaunderthis
whollycentrallyfundedscheme.FasttrackCourtsaremeanttoexpeditiouslyclearthe
colossalscaleofpendencyinthedistrictandsubordinateCourtsunderatimebound
programme.
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pursuanttotheconstitutionalmandateinArticle39A[xviii]oftheConstitutionofIndia.The
LegalserviceAuthoritiesActwasenactedtoconstitutelegalservicesauthoritiestoprovide
freeandcompetentlegalservicestotheweakersectionsofthesocietyandtoorganizeLok
Adalatstosecurethattheoperationofthelegalsystempromotesjusticeonthebasisof
equalopportunity.ThesettlementofdisputesbythePanchayatsortribalheadswas
prevalentsinceancienttimes.WhenstatutoryrecognitionwasgiventoLokAdalat,itwas
specificallyprovidedthattheawardpassedbytheLokAdalatwillhavetheforceofdecreeof
acourtwhichcanbeexecutedasacivilcourtdecree.
TheActisalegislativeattempttodecongesttheCourtsandtoensurethedecentralizationof
justice.[xix]
Since1985,LokAdalatshavebeenexclusivelyorganizedforsettlementofmotorthirdparty
claims,followingtheinitiativeofformerChiefJusticeofIndia,Shri.P.N.Bhagwati.The
endeavourreceivedapositiveresponse,sinceboththeclaimantaswellastheInsurance
Companycouldderivebenefits.TheincreasingnumberofcasesintheMotorAccidentClaim
Tribunal(MACT)andthebacklogofpendingcasespressedtheinsurerandthejudicial
systemtothinkaboutaquickdisposalorientedsystemsuchasLokAdalats/Conciliatory
forums.LokAdalathasbecomeaDisputeManagementInstitution.Itisaninformalsystemof
disputeresolution,devoidoftheproceduralwranglesofregulartrial.SincetheLegal
ServicesAuthorities(Amendment)Act1994,theLokAdalatsettlementisnolongera
voluntaryconcept.BythisActLokAdalathasgotstatutorycharacterandhasbeenlegally
recognized.CertainsalientfeaturesoftheActareenumeratedbelow:[xx]
Section19Central,State,DistrictandTalukLegalServicesAuthorityhasbeencreatedwho
areresponsiblefororganizingLokAdalatsatsuchintervalsandplace.
ConciliatorsforLokAdalatcomprisethefollowing:Asittingorretiredjudicialofficer.other
personsofreputeasmaybeprescribedbytheStateGovernmentinconsultationwiththe
ChiefJusticeofHighCourt.
Section20:CasescanbereferredforconsiderationofLokAdalatasunder:
Byconsentofboththepartiestothedisputes
Oneofthepartiesmakesanapplicationforreference
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WheretheCourtissatisfiedthatthematterisanappropriateonetobetakencognizanceof
bytheLokAdalat
Compromisesettlementshallbeguidedbytheprinciplesofjustice,equity,fairplayandother
legalprinciples
Wherenocompromisehasbeenarrivedatthroughconciliation,themattershallbereturned
totheconcernedcourtfordisposalinaccordancewithLaw.
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1987.ThesaidamendmentintroducedChapterVIA.Accordingtotheamendment,the
CentralorStateAuthoritiesmayestablishbynotification,PermanentLokAdalatsfor
determiningissuesinconnectiontoPublicUtilityServices.
PublicUtilityServicesinclude:
Transportservice,
Postal,telegraphortelephoneservices,
Supplyofpower,lightandwatertopublic,
(4)Systemofpublicconservancyorsanitation,
(5)InsuranceservicesandsuchotherservicesasnotifiedbytheCentralorState
Governments.
PERMANENTLOKADALATshavethesamepowersthatarevestedontheLokAdalats,
mentionedunderSection22(1)oftheAct.
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forcompromisethroughanapproachofgiveandtakeishighinthesecases.[xxv]LokAdalat
isindeedaboontothelitigantpublic,wheretheycangettheirdisputessettledfastandfree
ofcost.
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ChapterXXVIofCr.P.C.[xxx]
CONSENT OF PARTIES
ThemostimportantfactortobeconsideredwhiledecidingthecasesattheLokAdalatisthe
consentofboththeparties.Itcannotbeforcedonanypartythatthematterhastobe
decidedbytheLokAdalat.[xxxii]However,oncethepartiesagreethatthematterhastobe
decidedbytheLokAdalat,thenanypartycannotwalkawayfromthedecisionoftheLok
Adalat.Inseveralinstances,theSupremeCourthasheldthatiftherewasnoconsent,the
awardoftheLokAdalatisnotexecutableandalsoifthepartiesfailtoagreetogetthe
disputeresolvedthroughLokAdalat,theregularlitigationprocessremainsopenforthe
contestingparties.
TheSupremeCourthasalsoheldthatcompromiseisalwaysbilateralandmeansmutual
adjustment.Settlementisterminationoflegalproceedingsbymutualconsent.Ifno
compromisecanbearrivedat,thennoordercanbepassedbytheLokAdalat.
CONCLUSION
ThespecialconditionsprevailingintheIndiansocietyrequireahighlysensitizedlegalservice
whichisefficaciousforthepoorandthedowntrodden.TheLokAdalatmechanismisno
moreanexperimentinthecountry,itisinfact,afullprovensuccessthatneedstoincrease
itsdomainandbringunderitsrealmtheseveralaspectsthathavebeenexcludedtilldate.
LokAdalatscanbeviewedasaninstrumenttosocialchangeaswell.Assaidby
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Prof.Menon,LokAdalathasthepotentialforsocialreconstructionandlegalmobilizationfor
socialchange.Itcaninfluencethestyleofadministrationofjusticeandtheroleofthelawyer
andjudgeinit.Itcantakelawclosertothelifeofthepeopleandreducedisparitybetween
lawinbooksandlawinaction.[xxxiii]
TheneedforLokAdalatsisaggravatedbythehugepopulationofIndiathatcreatesan
unmanageableburdenontheJudiciarysystem.
ToincreasetheefficiencyofthesystemofLokAdalats,itiscrucialforthepublic,the
lawyers,theexecutiveandtheJudiciarytoworkinharmonyandcoordination.Thepeople
shouldbemadeawareoftheadvantagesoftheLokAdalats.
ThemainchallengethatliesinthepathofthesuccessofJudiciaryistheinvolvementofthe
masses.
Intheexistingsituation,theresorttoLokAdalatshasenabledamicabledisputesettlement.
ThesuccessofLokAdalatsshouldindeedbemeasuredbytheoverallatmosphere
generatedinthecountry,notbythenumberandnatureofLokAdalatheld,casessettledor
compensationawarded.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
JitendraN.Bhatt,ROUNDTABLEJUSTICETHROUGHLOKADALAT(PEOPLES
COURT)AVIBRANTADRININDIA,(2002)1SCC(Jour)11,availableat
http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.htm
http://www.adrcentre.in/images/pdfs/LOK_ADALATS_IN_H.P.%20Final.pdf
R.MadhavaMenon,LokAdalat:PeopleProgramforSpeedyJustice,IndianBarReview,
Vol132(2),1996
A.Khan,LokAdalat,1stEdition(2006),APHCorporation
http://nalsa.gov.in/actrules.html
http://jurisonline.in/?p=21380
http://www.academia.edu/3296008/Lok_Adalat_System_in_India
http://ihra.co.in/upload/index.php?mod=article&cat=Activities&article=8
http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.htm
LegalServicesAuthoritiesAct,1987
http://www.adrcentre.in/images/pdfs/LOK_ADALAT_FINAL_PAPER.pdf
http://www.settlementnegotiation.org/adr/
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Page11,IndianCouncilofArbitration,Vol.XXXXXNo.3,Arbitration&ConciliationLaw
,Oct.Dec.2001
http://www.fdrindia.org/publications/AlternativeDisputeResolution_PR.pdf
http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ombudsman
ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Als/pdf/16.pdf
FaliS.Nariman,INDIASLEGALSYSTEM:CANITBESAVED?,PenguinBooks,
Delhi(2006)
SubhashChandraGupta,OMBUDSMAN:ANINDIANPERSPECTIVE,1995MANAK
PUBLICATIONS
http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/alt_dis.pdf
PrabhaBhargava,LokAdalatJusticeatDoorStepsINAShreePublishers(2006)
(Reprint)
EditedbyRaghaviViswanath
[i]http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/publications/data/20051101anurag.pdfaccessedon30th
September,2013at20:15(IST)
[ii]http://www.fdrindia.org/publications/AlternativeDisputeResolution_PR.pdfaccessedon
30thSeptemberon20:30(IST)
[iii]Page131,FaliS.Nariman,INDIASLEGALSYSTEM:CANITBESAVED?,Penguin
Books,Delhi(2006)
[iv]Page17,S.A.Khan,LokAdalat,1stEdition(2006),APHPublishingCorporation
[v]http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Als/pdf/16.pdf,accessedon3rd
October,2013at21:45(IST)
[vi]42ndAmendmenttotheConstitution,1976
[vii]www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Als/pdf/16.pdfaccessedon4thOct,2013at
23:10(IST)
[viii]www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Als/pdf/16.pdfaccessedon4thOct,2013at
23:23(IST)
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[ix]ConstitutionofIndia,Article51(d)
[x]www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Download/Als/pdf/16.pdfaccessedon4thOct,2013at
23:37(IST)
[xi]Page11,IndianCouncilofArbitration,Vol.XXXXXNo.3,Arbitration&ConciliationLaw,
Oct.Dec.2001
[xii]http://www.fdrindia.org/publications/AlternativeDisputeResolution_PR.pdfaccessedon
5thOct,2013at18.45(IST)
[xiii]http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ombudsmanaccessedon5thOct,2013at
18:50(IST)
[xiv]http://doj.gov.in/?q=node/108accessedon5thOt,2013at19:15(IST)
[xv]http://www.settlementnegotiation.org/adr/accessedon6thOctober,2013at21.45(IST)
[xvi]http://www.academia.edu/3296008/Lok_Adalat_System_in_Indiaaccessedon11th
October,2013at00:10(IST)
[xvii]http://www.adrcentre.in/images/pdfs/LOK_ADALAT_FINAL_PAPER.pdfaccessedon
11thOct,2013at00.33(IST)
[xviii]TheStateshallsecurethattheoperationofthelegalsystempromotesjustice,ona
basisofequalopportunity,andshall,inparticular,providefreelegalaid,bysuitable
legislationorschemesorinanyotherway,toensurethatopportunitiesforsecuringjustice
arenotdeniedtoanycitizenbyreasonofeconomicorotherdisabilities.
[xix]http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.ht
[xx]http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.htm
[xxi]LegalServicesAuthoritiesAct,1987Section19(1)
[xxii]LegalServicesAuthoritiesAct,1987Section19(2)
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[xxiii]LegalServicesAuthoritiesAct,1987Section19(5)
[xxiv]http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.htmaccessedon12thOct,2013at10:25(IST)
[xxv]http://kelsa.nic.in/lokadalat.htmaccessedon12thOct,2013at10:45(IST)
[xxvi]http://www.academia.edu/3296008/Lok_Adalat_System_in_Indiaaccessedon14th
Oct,2013at23:12(IST)
[xxvii]http://www.academia.edu/3296008/Lok_Adalat_System_in_Indiaaccessedon15th
Oct,2013at21:45(IST)
[xxviii]http://ihra.co.in/upload/index.php?mod=article&cat=Activities&article=8accessedon
15thOct,2013at22:05(IST)
[xxix]http://ihra.co.in/upload/index.php?mod=article&cat=Activities&article=8accessedon
15thOct,2013at22:07(IST)
[xxx]http://ihra.co.in/upload/index.php?mod=article&cat=Activities&article=8accessedon
15thOct,2013at22:10(IST)
[xxxi]http://jurisonline.in/?p=21380accessedon16thOct,2013at23:05(IST)
[xxxii]http://jurisonline.in/?p=21380accessedon16thOct,2013at23:28(IST)
[xxxiii]Page134,N.R.MadhavaMenon,LokAdalat:PeopleProgramforSpeedy
Justice,IndianBarReview,Vol132(2),1996
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