Lok Adalat in India — how it works, National Lok Adalat, Permanent Lok Adalat, award & appeal (2026)
Plain-language guide to Lok Adalats under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: what cases can go (pending and pre-litigation), how to get a case listed in a National Lok Adalat, why the award is final with no appeal, court-fee refund, and how Permanent Lok Adalats decide public-utility disputes up to ₹1 crore. Educational only — not legal advice; Adhiwakta does not list cases or guarantee any settlement.
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What a Lok Adalat is
A Lok Adalat (“people’s court”) is a forum organised by the legal services authorities — NALSA, State and District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk committees — under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (LSA Act). It helps parties settle disputes by compromise. It is not a trial: there is no evidence-taking or cross-examination, and it can only record a settlement that both sides agree to. There is no court fee for going to a Lok Adalat.
Which cases can go to a Lok Adalat
Under Section 20 of the LSA Act, a Lok Adalat can take up (a) a case pending in a court, if both parties agree or one party applies and the court is satisfied that there is a chance of settlement, and (b) a dispute not yet filed in court (pre-litigation), on an application to the legal services authority. Commonly settled matters include cheque bounce (s. 138 NI Act), bank loan recovery, motor accident claims, electricity and water bills, family disputes other than divorce itself, labour, land acquisition compensation, traffic challans (in many states) and compoundable criminal cases. Non-compoundable offences cannot be settled in a Lok Adalat.
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Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
National Lok Adalat and how to get your case listed
NALSA organises National Lok Adalats on fixed dates across the country, usually a few times a year, and State authorities also hold regular and special Lok Adalats. To have a pending case listed, ask your court or the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) — most DLSAs accept applications at their office, and many state legal services websites list the next date and contact numbers. For a pre-litigation matter (for example, a bank dues or phone bill dispute) apply to the DLSA with your documents; notice goes to the other side. The free NALSA legal-aid helpline is 15100.
The award: final, binding, no appeal — and court-fee refund
Under Section 21 of the LSA Act, a Lok Adalat award is deemed to be a decree of a civil court, is final and binding on all parties, and no appeal lies against it. That is why you should read the settlement terms carefully before signing — once signed, you generally cannot reopen the dispute (the award can be challenged only in narrow situations, such as fraud, through a writ petition). If a pending case is settled, the court fee paid on it is refunded under the Court Fees Act. If there is no settlement, the case simply goes back to the regular court and continues from where it stood.
Permanent Lok Adalat (public utility services)
Chapter VI-A of the LSA Act (Sections 22A–22E) sets up Permanent Lok Adalats for public utility services — transport, postal and telephone, power, light and water supply, sanitation, hospitals and insurance, with education, housing and real estate added by the Central Government and banking/financial services notified in many states. Their pecuniary limit is ₹1 crore (Central notification of 20 March 2015). They first try conciliation; if the parties do not settle, a Permanent Lok Adalat can decide the dispute on merits (s. 22C(8)), and its award is final (s. 22E). It cannot deal with non-compoundable offences.
Practical tips before a Lok Adalat
Carry your case number, copies of the plaint/complaint, notices, bills, loan statements or cheque papers, ID proof and any earlier settlement offers. Decide in advance what settlement you can accept — amount, instalments, dates and what happens on default. Make sure the award records every term clearly (who pays how much, by when, and what is withdrawn). Do not sign under pressure; if the terms are unclear, you may ask for time or let the case return to court.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not list cases in Lok Adalats or negotiate for you. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I appeal against a Lok Adalat award?
- No. Under Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, a Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree, is final and binding, and no appeal lies against it. It can be challenged only in narrow cases such as fraud, usually through a writ petition in the High Court.
- How do I get my case listed in a National Lok Adalat?
- Apply to the court where the case is pending or to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) before the announced date. For a dispute not yet in court (pre-litigation), apply to the DLSA with your documents. There is no fee; the NALSA legal-aid helpline is 15100.
- Can criminal cases be settled in a Lok Adalat?
- Only compoundable offences (and cheque bounce cases under Section 138 NI Act, which are compoundable). Non-compoundable offences cannot be settled in a Lok Adalat or a Permanent Lok Adalat.
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