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{{Short description|Dispute resolution mechanism in India}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Jharkhand Legal Services Authority
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| formed = 1987
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| country = India
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| headquarters =Jharkhand Legal Services Authority,
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| chief1name = THE Hon'ble Chief Justice SHRI. Dr. Ravi Ranjan.<ref name="jh ref1">{{cite web |title=Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa) |url=https://www.jhalsa.org/ |website=www.jhalsa.org |access-date=23 December 2021}}</ref>
| chief1position = Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Patron-in-Chief, JHALSA, Ranchi.
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| website = https://www.jhalsa.org/
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'''Jharkhand Lok Adalat''' or Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (People's Court) is an [[statutory]] and [[autonomous]] body and an [[alternative dispute resolution]] mechanism used in the state of [[Jharkhand]]. The Jharkhand Lok Adalat Act is designed to provide [[Constitution|constitutional]] protection guaranteed under Article 14 and 39-A of the [[Constitution of India]], of “ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL”. It is a legal system to resolve pending cases at Panchayat or rural places, those in a pre-litigation stage in courts are resolved amicably. It is recognised as statutory authority under the [[Legal Services Authorities Act 1987|Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987]] and the [[Lok Adalat|Lok Adalats]] award or decision are deemed to be civil court case and final and enforceable on both parties. Such an award is not appealable in any court of law in the absence of any provision. However, by approaching the court of appropriate [[jurisdiction]], litigation can be initiated by any party in the suit if any of them are dissatisfied with the decision of the Lok Adalat (in the absence of any provision for appeal against such award.

"Section 22 B of The Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 provides for the establishment of Permanent Lok Adalats (PLA) for exercising jurisdiction in respect of one or more [[public utility]] services (PUS). Section 22 A of The Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 states what constitutes 'Public Utility Services' for the purpose of Permanent Lok Adalat".<ref>{{cite web|title=Permanent Lok Adalat|url=http://hslsa.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/PLA.pdf|publisher=Haryana State Legal Services Authority|access-date=2021-12-23|archive-date=2021-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920113842/http://hslsa.gov.in/sites/default/files/documents/PLA.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History and Administration ==

Jharkhand Lok Adalat formed under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and to implement the provisions of Constitution which had been drafted to help every citizen to get justice irrespective of their economic or other limitations. The primary value laid down as per Indian Constitutional philosophy is individual dignity which forms the basis of human rights and demands on a holistic basis of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

Jharkhand Lok Adalat is formed with objective and purpose of ensuring and providing visible, practical and positive initiatives ensuring equality and non bias decisions as laid down in Constitution of India and assumes significance due to illiteracy and poverty prevalent in India.

Lok Adalats are constituted at below levels:<ref name="Lok Ref2">{{cite news |title=Lok Adalats unclog a choked justice delivery system |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/insight/lok-adalats-unclog-a-choked-justice-delivery-system-1034264.html |access-date=28 September 2021 |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=26 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

*State Authorities.

*High Court.

*District and Taluk level.

1. Chairman.

2. Secretaries.

*Mandal Committees.

*Mediation Centres.

Types of Lok Adalat:

* Permanent Lok Adalat - Provides mechanism for adjudging cases referred under public utility services like transport, postal and telegraph.

* National Lok Adalat - Held from year 2015, every month on specific topic across India. These are held on a single day disposing off large number of pending cases.

* Mega Lok Adalat - Held across all courts in state in a single day.

* Mobile Lok Adalats - These types of Lok Adalats are organised occasionally which travel from one place to other across country occasionally and help resolving disputes.<ref name="aru lokad ref3">{{cite news |title=APSLSA introduced mobile Legal Services cum Lok Adalat Van |url=https://arunachal24.in/apslsa-introduced-mobile-legal-services-cum-lok-adalat-van/ |access-date=3 November 2021 |publisher=arunachal24.in |date=29 January 2020}}</ref>

SHRI. Ravi Ranjan is the Chief Justice and patron-in-chief of the Jharkhand Lok Adalat.<ref name="jh ref6">{{cite news |title=Country’s First Insurance E-Lok Adalat Conducted by Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) [READ REPORT] |url=https://lawstreet.co/judiciary/jhalsa-insurance-elok-adalat?refuid=MTE4ODh8NTAuNjMuMTYwLjIxN3xzb29sZWdhbC5jb20%3D |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=lawstreet.co |date=22 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Lok Adalat Committee and Complaint Procedures ==

Lok Adalat settles disputes which can be mutually resolved and mostly relating to [[Matrimonial law|matrimonial]], [[damages]] and partition suits. The following are the requirements of the cases before Lok Adalat:<ref name="Lok Ref2" />

* Lok Adalat takes up cases which are civil in nature (including marriage, and family disputes) and compoundable criminal cases.<ref name="jh ref2">{{cite news |last1=Sahay |first1=Sanjay |title=Jharkhand: Over 3,300 cases settled in first e-lok adalat since lockdown {{!}} Ranchi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/over-3300-cases-settled-in-first-e-lok-adalat-since-lockdown/articleshow/78726953.cms |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=The Times of India |date=18 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

* It accepts cases pending in regular court under their jurisdiction.

* The main condition of the Lok Adalat is that both parties in dispute agree for settlement.

* The court fee paid initially in the court for the complaints/petition is refunded to the parties, as no court fee is chargeable if a matter referred in the Lok Adalat and is resolved with parties agreeing to bind by it.<ref name="jh ref5">{{cite news |title=More than 55,000 cases, over Rs 108 cr settled at Lok Adalat |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/state-editions/more-than-55-000-cases--over-rs-108-cr-settled-at-lok-adalat.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=The Pioneer |date=12 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

* Procedural laws and the [[Indian Evidence Act|Evidence Act]] are not strictly followed while assessing claims.

* Decisions are binding on the parties and its order is capable of execution through legal process.

The following types of cases can be admitted in Lok Adalat.<ref name="Lok Ref1">{{cite news |title=Lok Adalat |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hans-Classroom/2018-04-25/Lok-Adalat/376372?infinitescroll=1 |access-date=28 September 2021 |publisher=thehansindia.com |date=25 April 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

1. Any dispute or case pending in any court of law in India.

* Criminal offences which are compoundable.<ref name="jh ref7">{{cite news |title=National Lok Adalat on September 11 |url=https://lagatar24.com/national-lok-adalat-on-september-11/61501/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=Lagatar English |date=7 August 2021}}</ref>

* Cases under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act.

* Issues relating to recovery of money.

* Issues under Indian Motor Vehicles Act,1988.

* Issues relating to labour disputes.

* Issues relating to public utility bills like electricity, water etc excluding Non Compoundable offences.

* Issues relating to Matrimony.

2. Any dispute to be planned to filed in Court but did not come up for hearing in front of it. Following Pre-Litigation cases can also be filed in Lok-Adalat.<ref name="jh ref3">{{cite news |title=Jharkhand: First virtual lok adalat to settle 9,000 pre-litigation insurance cases {{!}} Ranchi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/first-virtual-lok-adalat-to-settle-9k-pre-litigation-insurance-cases/articleshow/78304315.cms |access-date=23 December 2021 |publisher=The Times of India |date=25 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

* Cases under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act.

* Cases relating to recovery of money.

* Issues relating to labour disputes.

* Issues relating to public utility bills like electricity, water etc excluding Non Compoundable offences.

* General Maintenance related disputes.

* Other Miscellaneous cases which are civil disputes, criminal compoundable cases and matrimonial disputes.

However, any legal issue which is not compoundable as per the Indian Legal Systems cannot be taken up in the Lok Adalat.

As the members are presiding Lok Adalat as statutory conciliators and not in judicial capacity they can only persuade the parties to come to a settlement. Sometimes counselling sessions are also held between opposing parties.<ref name="Loka Ref3">{{cite news |title=Lok Adalat disposes of 8.5 lakh cases in a day across Maharashtra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/lok-adalat-disposes-of-8-5-lakh-cases-in-a-day-across-maharashtra-101632673899685.html |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=26 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The main condition of the Lok Adalat is that both parties in dispute agree for settlement and if they are unable to do so, it is referred to the Permanent Lok Adalat for deciding the case provided the case is not related to compoundable offence.

Jharkhand Lok Adalat, as per Supreme Court judgement, is formed to arrive at a compromise or solution between parties in dispute and hence does not have jurisdiction to go into merits of complaint.<ref name="and lok ref15">{{cite news |title=Lok Adalat can't decide cases on merits|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lok-adalat-cant-decide-cases-on-merits-sc-1041603.html |access-date=25 October 2021 |publisher=deccanherald.com |date=18 October 2021}}</ref>

In year 2020, Jharkhand Lok Adalat conducted first insurance E-Lok Adalat.<ref name="jh ref6" />

== Details of cases Resolved ==

1. Jharkhand Lok Adalat solved 3300 cases in the first Lok Adalat conducted post Covid lockdown in year 2020.<ref name="jh ref2" />

2. Jharkhand Lok Adalat awarded monetary compensation and compassionate pay off for the deceased employees of Central Coalfields Limited(CCL) as part of pre-Litigated issues listed before it during National Lok adalat organised in the state.<ref name="jh ref4">{{cite news |title=27 dependents get appointment letters in National Lok Adalat |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/state-editions/27-dependents-get-appointment-letters-in-national-lok-adalat.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |publisher=The Pioneer |date=12 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008]]
* [[Legal Services Authorities Act 1987]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.jhalsa.org/ Official Website]

{{Lok Adalat}}



[[Category:Dispute resolution]]
[[Category:Law of India]]
[[Category:Lok Adalat]]

Jharkhand Lok Adalat - Revision history

PriscillaNair10: Creating a article.