In its pursuit of fulfilling the commitment to deliver speedy and inexpensive justice, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) guided by the Patron-in-Chief and Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana has laid emphasis on Lok Adalats in effectively reducing the number of pending cases through Alternative Dispute Mechanisms.
NALSA, under the leadership of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Executive Chairman, initiated consultations and review meetings with all the State Legal Services Authorities to adopt result-oriented approach and to maximize disposal of cases in National Lok Adalats. Before the organization of each National Lok Adalat, NALSA interacted multiple times with the Executive Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of all the State Legal Services Authorities to take a stock of the preparations and to boost the morale of all the stakeholders.
The Legal Services Authorities under the aegis of NALSA thus changed their strategies for organization of the Lok Adalats. Using technological advancements and virtual platforms, Legal Services Authorities started reaching the doorsteps of the parties. As a result, parties were able to join preparatory meetings as well as the Lok Adalat proceedings from their homes or workplaces, saving them the hassles of travelling. The Authorities could thus witness that a large number of persons joined the virtual proceedings sitting hundreds of kilometres away from their physical locations. The technology was thus used by NALSA for evolving effective ways of supervision and monitoring of Lok Adalats. Certain areas having greater possibilities of settlement such as NI Act cases, Bank recovery cases along other financial matters were highlighted and the authorities explored all the possibilities of compromise even in such cases.
The cumulative effect of all the foundational measures resulted in extraordinary disposal figures during 2021. Across the country, a total number of 1,27,87,329 cases were disposed of in four National Lok Adalats, which include a record number of pending cases i.e., 55,81,117 and a large number of prelitigation cases i.e., 72,06,212. It is a matter of pride that the Legal Services Authorities were able to help dispose such a large number of cases giving a sigh of relief to the common citizens by ending or preventing legal battles.
The number of pending cases has increased during the ongoing pandemic, putting additional burden on the system. However, with a large number of disposal through Lok Adalats, a substantiate contribution has been made by the Legal Services Authorities in reducing such burden on the Judicial Administration.
There is no gainsaying that the Lok Adalats have settled greater number of cases than any other dispute resolution mechanism and have emerged as the most efficacious tool of Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
Achieving these unprecedented figures was not an easy task and it was possible mainly because of formulation of decisive strategies and great contribution and efforts by the stakeholders at all levels. The recent report by a unit based in the Development Impact Evaluation team at the World Bank Group with respect to the State of Maharashtra by way of a sample study, bears testimony to such efforts and results.
While celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and also marking completion of 25 years of Legal Services in the country, the resolution of disputes through Lok Adalats is emphasized in the Tableau of NALSA. The message is to achieve Conciliation eliminating Confrontation and thereby attain and maintain Peace and Harmony.
Ministry of Law and Justice (NALSA) tableau: Ek Mutthi Aasmaa
The theme “Ek Mutthi Aasmaa” is symbol of reassurance, determination and optimism for poor and marginalized sections of the society. The Legal Services Authorities are constituted for providing competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice were not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and to organize Lok Adalats to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity.
The front of the tableau showcases ‘Nyay Sbke Liye’, a hand gesture of fearlessness, guarantee and protection. In the rear, a hand can be seen opening its five fingers one by one, depicting five guiding principles of Lok Adalats i.e., Accessible, Definitive, Affordable, Equitable, and Timely Justice for all.
Lok Adalat is an innovative and most popular mechanism for Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve legal disputes in a spirit of conciliation outside the Court. Lok Adalat follows a simple and informal procedure and resolves a case within no time, moreover, no court fee is required to be paid by the parties. Any Court fee, if already paid in a pending court matter is also refunded, in case of settlement in the Lok Adalat. The order/Award of Lok Adalat is final & non-appealable. In the end, the parties have a sense of satisfaction as neither of them wins nor loses. NALSA has reached the doorsteps of the common citizens in providing speedier system of justice thus contributed largely in reducing the burden of the courts. During the National Lok Adalats organized in 2021, more than 125 lakhs cases were settled by the Lok Adalats.