Both Lok Adalats and Arbitration Tribunals are alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms aimed at ensuring speedy, cost-effective, and accessible justice, reducing the burden on regular courts.
Objectives of Lok Adalats and Arbitration Tribunals
Speedy Justice Delivery
Reduction in Judicial Burden
Cost-Effective Dispute Resolution
Encourage conciliation, compromise, and mutual agreement between disputing parties.
Access to Justice (Article 39A)
Procedural Flexibility
Difference between Lok Adalats And Arbitration Tribunals
Jurisdiction Over Civil and Criminal Cases
Lok Adalats
Can hear civil cases such as family disputes, land or property matters.
Non-compoundable offences (e.g., murder, rape, theft) are outside its jurisdiction.
Arbitration Tribunals
Civil Jurisdiction – Deal with contractual, commercial, and property disputes arising from an agreement between parties.
Have no jurisdiction over criminal cases since criminal liability is non-contractual and involves offences against the State.
Both Lok Adalats and Administrative Tribunals ensure access to speedy justice under Article 39A. Their effective functioning is essential to ensure justice is neither delayed nor denied.