National Legal Services Day 2024: Types of Lok Adalat You Need to Know

National Legal Services Day is celebrated in India every year on 9 November. This is to commemorate the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 that came into effect on 9 November 1995. This observance was initiated by the Supreme Court of India to enlighten people with awareness of the law and ensure justice for all, particularly weaker sections.

Importance and Objectives

The most important objective of National Legal Services Day is to empower people to be more aware of legal rights and mechanisms for resolving disputes. It emphasizes that an economically disabled person should not be deprived of representation in court. On that very day, various arrangements have been made so that public awareness is generated about free legal services and equal access to justice.

Core Objectives:

Legal Literacy: Educate citizens about their legal rights.

Free Legal Services: Ensure that weaker and economically poorer sections are represented in courts

Settlement of Conflicts: Promote Lok Adalats (people's courts) for amicable settlement of disputes.

Historical Background

The celebration of National Legal Services Day dates back to Chief Justice A.S. Anand's call at the First Annual Meeting of State Legal Services Authorities in 1998. The meeting aimed to review the existing legal aid schemes functioning in various parts of India and to make them more effective. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), under the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, plays an important role in the implementation of such objectives through the process of organizing legal awareness camps, workshops, and other outreach programs.

National Legal Services Day Activities

In this day, NALSA as well as its state-level counterparts, go a long way in terms of the activities planned, such as:

Legal Awareness Camps: Education of the people about their rights and availability of legal services.

Training camps: Imparting knowledge of how to get free legal aid and assist them in navigating the judicial system

Lok Adalats: Sitting alternate dispute redressal forum to amicably settle cases.

Lok Adalats, or "People's Courts," are an integral part of India's alternative dispute resolution system, designed to provide accessible and efficient justice. There are several types of Lok Adalats, each serving specific purposes and addressing various kinds of disputes. Here are the main types you need to know:

Types of Lok Adalat

1. Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA):
   • Established under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
   • Focuses on public utility services such as transport, postal services, and telecommunication.
   • Functions as a permanent body with a Chairman and two members.
   • Has jurisdiction to decide cases up to ₹1 crore if parties fail to reach a settlement, and its awards are final and binding.
2. National Lok Adalat:
   • Held at regular intervals across the country on a specific day.
   • Aims to resolve a large number of cases simultaneously in all courts from the Supreme Court to Taluk levels.
   • Focuses on various subject matters each month, promoting mass resolution of disputes.
3. Mega Lok Adalat:
   • Similar to National Lok Adalats but typically involves larger gatherings and aims for mass settlement events.
   • Designed to handle high volumes of cases in a single day, often organized at state or district levels.
4. Mobile Lok Adalat:
   • Designed to reach remote areas where access to traditional courts may be limited.
   • Operates in various locations on different dates, providing legal services directly in communities.
5. Daily Lok Adalat:
   • Conducted regularly at designated intervals (e.g., daily or weekly) to ensure ongoing access to dispute resolution.
   • Helps in managing the backlog of cases in courts by providing timely settlements.
6. Continuous Lok Adalat:
   • Functions continuously over an extended period, allowing for ongoing hearings and settlements.
   • Aims to provide flexibility for parties seeking resolution without waiting for scheduled sessions

National Legal Services Day is not only celebratory to legal rights but is also meant to reduce the chasm between law and the marginalized so that justice can be obtained by all in society.

National Legal Services Day strengthens the commitment to justice and legal aid for everyone, particularly the disadvantaged. By bridging the gap between legal resources and marginalized communities, it ensures that no individual is deprived of representation and that awareness of legal rights becomes a pillar of social equality.