(a) whether the Government has issued any directions/
guidelines to the Legal Services Authorities of the States
to organise more Lok Adaiats to dispose ofthe pending court
cases speedly;
(b) if so, the details thereof, and the response of the
State Legal Services Authorities thereon; and
(c) the number of Lok Adaiats organised by the various State
Legal Services Authorities during the last six months, State-wise?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DR. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The State Legal Services Authorities have been issued
guidelines/ directions by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to organise
more Lok Adaiats to dispose of pending court cases speedly. They have been circulated
National Plan of Action 2010-11 of NALSA to widen the network of the Lok Adalat. The
State Legal Services Authorities bave been provided funds to purchase a van to be
suitably designed as `Mobile Lok Adalat Van. A van of this type is intended to reach
into the deeper pockets of villages, the people of which are ordinarily prevented
from access to justice. A large number of under-trial prisoners charged with
compoundable offences can avail of the benefits of Lok Adaiats in the jails itself
leading to their early release. The State Legal Services Authorities have been
instructed to organise Mega Lok Adaiats in all courts and Tribunals including DRTs,
Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and Family Courts on the basis of a pre-scheduled
calendar. The response of the State Legal Services Authority`s is good.
The Department of Expenditure (Finance Commission Division, Ministry of
Finance), has issued guidelines with regard to organizing more and more Lok Adalats
for disposal of pending court cases speedly. With the objective of improving justice
delivery including for Lok Adalat, the Thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended a
grant of T 5,000 crore over its award period 2010-15, through the following initiatives
amongst others:
i) Enhancing support to Lok Adalats to reduce the pressure on regular courts,
ii) Promoting the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to resolve part
of the disputes outside the court system.
As regards Lok Adalats, the 13th Finance Commission has proposed to allot
funds with the guideline that a component of the justice delivery grant is to be
used to enable States to hold about ten mega Lok Adalats per High Court per year
and about five Lok Adalats for each of the 1500 court locations per year, during
2010-15. The Lok Adalats are expected to reduce pendency of cases in court so as
to dispose 15 lakh cases each year, and 75 lakh cases during 2010-15
(c): A Statement showing number of Lok Adalats organised by all the State Legal
Services Authorities in the country during the last six months (January, 2010 to
June, 2010) is annexed as Annexure.