Question

Which of the following statements are true with regard to Courts in India?
A. Nyaya Panchayats are invested with criminal jurisdiction so as to reduce the burden of High Courts.
B. Lok Adalats are not having any locus standi in the Indian Judicial System.
C. Lok Adalats provide people a quick, easy, accessible, non-technical forum for their dispute-resolution.
D. The matters that can be taken up by Lok Adalat for disposal are enumerated in Section 20(1) of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A & B Only
• B. A & C Only
• C. C & D Only
• D. A & D Only

Hint:

Awards passed by Lok Adalats are treated as decrees of civil courts and are final and binding.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• The Indian judiciary includes Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to speed up the delivery of justice.
• Lok Adalats (People's Courts) are one of the most effective ADR tools in India, designed for compromise and settlement.
• They were given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

Step 1: Evaluate the statement on Nyaya Panchayats
Nyaya Panchayats are village-level courts that deal with petty civil and criminal matters. Their goal is to reduce the burden on *subordinate/district courts*, not directly the High Courts. High Courts handle appellate and constitutional matters. Thus, A is incorrect.

Step 2: Evaluate the status of Lok Adalats
Statement B claims Lok Adalats have no "locus standi." This is false because they are recognized by the 1987 Act and their awards have the force of a decree of a Civil Court. Thus, B is incorrect.

Step 3: Analyze the nature of Lok Adalats
Lok Adalats are known for being informal, non-technical, and free of court fees. They focus on settling disputes through conciliation, making justice accessible and fast for the common man. Thus, C is correct.

Step 4: Check the legal framework
Section 20(1) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, explicitly lists the conditions under which a case can be referred to a Lok Adalat, including pending cases and pre-litigation matters. Thus, D is correct.

Step 5: Conclusion
With C and D being the only true statements, the correct option is (C).