Lok Adalats Play Key Role in Reducing Case Backlog & Promoting Dispute Resolution

Lok Adalats are organized by Legal Services Institutions at such intervals as it deems fit, in order to reduce the pendency of cases in courts and also to settle the disputes at pre-litigation stage. Lok Adalats are one of the effective modes of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism in reducing the burden on the courts, which have received positive response from the public. There are three types of Lok Adalats namely State Lok Adalats, National Lok Adalats and Permanent Lok Adalats.

1. State Lok Adalats are organized by the Legal Services Authorities/Committees as per the local conditions and needs, for settlement of both pre-litigation and post-litigation cases.
2. National Lok Adalats are conducted quarterly for settlement of cases (both pre-litigation and post-litigation) in all the courts from the Supreme Court of India to the Taluk Courts on a single day.  Every year, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) issues calendar for organising National Lok Adalats. During the year 2025, National Lok Adalats are scheduled to be held on 8^th March, 10^th May, 13^th September and 13^th December.
3. Permanent Lok Adalats are permanent establishments set up in most of the Districts to provide compulsory pre-litigative mechanism for settlement of disputes related to Public Utility Services.

The details of the number of cases disposed of by the Lok Adalats during the last two years and current year are as follows:

(i)         National Lok Adalat

(ii)        State Lok Adalat

(iii)       Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services)

This information was given by the Minister of State for Law and Justice and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.