Lok Adalats: settling a dispute without a full trial

Legal Services Authorities at national, state, district and taluk level can organise Lok Adalats (Section 19). A Lok Adalat can settle a case pending in any court, or a matter that could be brought before a court but hasn't been. It has no power over a case relating to an offence that can't be compounded under any law (Section 19(5)). Criminal offences that can be compounded are now listed in Section 359 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).

A pending case reaches a Lok Adalat in one of three ways (Section 20). Both parties can agree to it. One party can apply and the court can see a chance of settlement. Or the court can find the matter suitable for one. For a dispute not yet in court, the Legal Services Authority can refer it on one party's application, after giving the other party a chance to be heard. The Lok Adalat is guided by justice, equity and fair play. If no settlement is reached, a pending case goes back to the court, which continues from where it stopped. In a pre-litigation matter, the parties are told they can pursue other remedies.

A settlement becomes an award. Under Section 21, the award is deemed a decree of a civil court, is final and binding on all parties, and can't be appealed. Where a case referred from a court is settled, the court fee paid is refunded under the court-fee law. In November 2025, the Supreme Court said the only recognised way to challenge a Lok Adalat award is the High Court's jurisdiction under the Constitution, through a writ petition. It said an executing court can't set aside the award, and objections in execution proceedings are not a substitute for that route.

Permanent Lok Adalats (Sections 22A–22E) handle public utility services: transport of passengers or goods by air, road or water; postal, telegraph or telephone services; supply of power, light or water; public conservancy or sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries; and insurance. Governments can add other services by notification. Any party can apply before the dispute goes to any court. After that, neither side can take the same dispute to a court (Section 22C(2)). The Permanent Lok Adalat first tries conciliation. If that fails, it can decide the dispute unless it relates to an offence. The Act's text sets a limit of ₹10 lakh on the value of the property in dispute and lets the central government raise it by notification. NALSA's current page and a December 2025 government backgrounder state the limit as ₹1 crore. Its award is final, binds the parties, is treated as a civil court decree, and can be sent to a civil court to be enforced (Section 22E).

1. The court where your case is pending. A request can be made for the case to be referred to the next Lok Adalat.
2. The Taluk Legal Services Committee or District Legal Services Authority, usually in the court complex, for pre-litigation matters and listing in a National Lok Adalat.
3. The State Legal Services Authority, or the NALSA helpline 15100.
4. A Permanent Lok Adalat, for disputes about a public utility service that haven't yet gone to court.