Lok Sabha Question No. 495 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Settlement of Cases in Lok Adalat
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.495

ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## SETTLEMENT OF CASES IN LOK ADALAT

## 495. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  over  seventy  five  lakh  pending  and  pre-litigation  cases  were  settled across the country in the third National Lok Adalat organized this year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  legal  services  authorities  have  used  technological  platforms  to conduct digital Lok Adalat in many States and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  Lok  Adalats  have  become  an  efficient  substitute  to  seek  Judicial redressal, and helped a lot in reducing pendency of cases in courts; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)& (b): Yes Sir,the 3 rd National Lok Adalat which was organized across the country on 13.08.2022, disposed off  following  number of cases:-

| Pre-litigation Cases Disposed off   | Pending Cases Disposed off   | Total Cases   |
|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|---------------|
| 82,46,801                           |                              | Disposed off  |
|                                     | 26,04,752                    | 1,08,51,553   |

(c): During the COVID pandemic, the Legal Services Authorities (LSAs) innovatively leveraged technology and introduced E-Lok Adalat, wherein affected parties couldget their matter  resolved  without  physically  visiting  the  venue  of  the  Adalat.    E-Lok  Adalat  is  a process  to  settle  disputes,  combining  technology  and  alternative  dispute  resolution ('ADR')  mechanisms  which  offers  a  faster,  transparent  and  accessible  option.  E-Lok Adalats have significantly improved access to justice for people who would otherwise be unable  to  participate  in  the  Lok  Adalats.  With  Lok  Adalats  being  held  virtually,  it  has become  accessible  to  a  large  section  of  the  population.  E-Lok  Adalats  are  also  cost effective as it eliminates the need for organizational expenses. As people can effectively participate from their homes with the help of internet technology, it has reduced the cost of travel to access the forum. Besides, it also saves time as people do not have to take time off work.The following steps have been taken by most of the Legal Services Authorities to promote E-Lok Adalats:-

- (i) Standard Operating Procedures have been formulated
- (ii) Technical  training  through  System  Officers  has  been  provided  to  the Court Staff.
- (iii) Whatsapp Groups are formed for litigants, advocates and respondents for conveying  them  relevant  information  and  the  link  for  attending  elokadalat
- (iv) Video Conferencing Link and Cause list are displayed on the website of the District Courts

As per data shared with NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) of 28 States and UTs so far organized E-Lok Adalats since June, 2020.  The details of the cases  taken  up  and  disposed  in  both  pre-litigation  and  pending  cases  in  E-Lok  Adalats during the period from June, 2020 to September, 2022 is as under:-

| Pre-Litigation Cases   | Pre-Litigation Cases   | Pending Cases in Courts   | Pending Cases in Courts   |
|------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| Taken Up               | Disposal               | Taken Up                  | Disposal                  |
| 1,63,78,857            | 38,39,258              | 96,13,800                 | 14,99,042                 |

(d) & (e): Lok  Adalat  is  an  important  Alternative  Disputes  Resolution  Mechanism available to common people. It is a forum where the disputes/ cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.  Under the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act, 1987, an award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies against thereto before any court.  In order to reduce the pendency of cases in courts and also to settle the disputes at  pre-litigation  stage,  Lok  Adalats  are  organized  by  Legal  Services  Institutions  at  such intervals as it deems fit.  Lok Adalat is not a permanent establishment.  However, as per Section 19 of the LSA Act, 1987, Lok Adalats are organized by Legal Services Institutions as  per  requirement.    National  Lok  Adalats  are  organized  simultaneously  in  all  Taluks, Districts and High Courts on a pre-fixed date.

The details of the case disposed off in Lok Adalats during the last two years are as under:-

| Years   | Pre-litigation Cases   | Pending Cases   | Grand Total   |
|---------|------------------------|-----------------|---------------|
| 2021    | 72,06,294              | 55,81,743       | 1,27,88,037   |
| 2022    | 3,10,15,215            | 1,09,10,795     | 4,19,26,010   |
| Total   | 3,82,21,509            | 1,64,92,538     | 5,47,14,047   |