4.2. Types of Lok Adalat

1. National Lok Adalat: National Level Lok Adalats are held for at regular interals on a single day throughout the nation, in every one of the courts, from the Supreme Court till the Taluk Levels, wherein the cases are disposed of in huge numbers. They are held every two months across the country to dispose of the pending cases. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Law, more than 50 lakh cases are disposed of annually on an average by these courts.

2. Permanent Lok Adalat: It was established according to Section 22 B of the Legal Service Authorities Act, 1987. These are permanent bodies with a Chairman and two members giving an obligatory pre-litigation system for conciliation and settlement of cases pertaining to public utility services. In these courts, even if there is a failure in reaching settlement, the Permanent Lok Adalat has the jurisdiction to decide the matter, provided, the dispute does not relate to any offence. The award given by the Permanent Lok Adalat is last and official for every one of the parties. The jurisdiction of Permanent Lok Adalat is up to Rs.10 Lakhs.

3. Portable Lok Adalats: These are mobile dispute settlement bodies and are set up in different parts of the country to resolve matters by encouraging resolution of disputes and easing the burden on the formal judiciary.