What is Meaning and Object of Lok Adalat?

       The Legal Services Authority Act makes provisions in relation to the establishment, powers and functions etc. of the Lok Adalat. The Preamble of the act makes it clear that the it has been connected to constitutes the legal Services Authorities to provide free and Competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities and organise Lok Adalats to secure that operation of the legal system promotes Justice on a basis of equal opportunity.

                     The Lok Adalat provide quick justice at less expenses. Actually Lok Adalat is an old concept. In ancient India it played important role in settlement of disputes. In British period the Institution of Lok Adalat was replaced by centralised judicial system. Local Courts were replaced by the Royal Courts.

The object of establishment of Lok Adalat is to settle the disputes quickly by counselling and discussions,  etc.  Its basis is to provide quick justice with the mutual and free consent of the parties. The provision for establishment of Lok Adalat has been enacted with the object to reduce burden on the Courts so that the problem of law's delay may be solved and people may get justice within due time. It is supplementary to the judicial system and not a substitute thereof.

                     Lok Adalat saves not only time but also huge expenditure on judicial proceedings in the current judicial system. It provides quick justice at nominal expenditure. Thus, it provides less expensive Justice to the people.

          The Lok Adalat is not a Court. It may be taken as a para-judicial institution .