Experience of India in decongesting courts through Lok Adalats

The Constitution of India pledges to secure to all its citizens justice- social, economic and political. Article 39-A of the Indian Constitution imposes an obligation on the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system in the country promotes justice, on the basis of equal opportunity and also provides for free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes in any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizens by reason of economic and other disabilities. It is also the basic human right of every person to get justice within reasonable time. But because of many reasons people in India are not getting justice in courts within reasonable time. Due to increase in inflow of cases courts in India are overburdened. It is not possible by following traditional method to dispose off cases within reasonable time. This method is formal, rigid, costly and time consuming. Problem of delays and expensive litigation has attracted the attention and concern of those connected with the management of the judicial system. There was need to develop some method which could remove all these weaknesses of the formal system. In old times people in India used to get their disputes resolved by the interference of their elders. Taking clue from that an indigenous method has been developed as early as in 1982. This method is given the name of Lok Adalat. Lok Adalats are organised to secure quick justice at cheaper costs. In India where vast majority of people are socially and economically oppressed the institution of Lok Adalats has proved to be a boon. But still there are some issues which need to be improved so that this may help in decongesting the courts in India in an effective way. It is the main purpose of this research work.