In this article you will learn about the Function of Lok Adalat in Political Science.
Function of Lok Adalat
The main function of Lok Adalat is to facilitate the settlement of disputes through negotiation, mediation, and conciliation. It is a voluntary and non-binding process, which means that the parties involved in a dispute can choose to accept or reject the outcome of the Lok Adalat. The key benefits of Lok Adalat are its speedy resolution of disputes, low cost, and informality.
A chief feature of the system of Lok Adalats is that it enables the people to settle their disputes and cases speedily and in an efficient and enduring way. Since a decision of the Lok Sabha is based upon the consent of the parties to the dispute, no appeal can be made by any party after the Lok Adalat has settled the dispute. This system helps the courts to remain free from the burden of hearing appeals in cases settled by the Lok Adalats. The parties to the dispute also gain as the aggrieved party gets compensated and the other party gets relief from the botherations and delays that always characterise the judicial process.
Lok Adalats have completed around 5 decades of their life as instruments of Justice. These have enabled the poor and downtrodden people to get compensation in several types of cases. These have been serving the objective of securing speedy and less expensive justice for the people. These have been providing speedier justice and free legal aid or legal aid at reduced rates. Till today, Lok Adalats in India have settled more than 25 lakhs cases. Former Chief Justice of India, Sh. P.N. Bhagwati played a key role in popularising the system of Lok Adalat. Gujarat High Court got the honour of establishing the first Lok Adalat. Later on, all other high courts followed suit. Now, Lok Adalats are at work in all the states of Indian Union.
In the Part IV of the Constitution of India, it gives a directive to the state to organise and run the legal system in such a way as can help the people get equal opportunities for securing justice and help the needy to secure free legal aid. On the basis of this directive, the Union Parliament passed the Legal Service Authority Act, 1987. Under this Act, several legal service cells or institutions were established which were to provide either free legal to the poor people or legal aid at low cost. Further, under this Act, a legal aid fund was created which was put into operation at national, provincial and district levels. Such legal institutions were given the responsibility to encourage the system of settlement of disputes by Lok Adalats. Later on, all the states of the Indian Union either passed their respective laws or issued executive orders for the establishment of Lok Adalats in their respective territories. Every state law enacted for establishing Lok Adalats also described the nature of cases or disputes which could be decided by the Lok Adalats and organisation and method of working of the Lok Adalats.
In summary, the function of Lok Adalat is to provide a platform for the speedy and cost-effective resolution of disputes outside of the traditional court system, through negotiation, mediation, and conciliation.
This article on Function of Lok Adalat in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.