Srinagar, May 19: Barring the Lok Adalats from hearing non-compoundable cases, the High Court has observed that the judicial officers convene these Adalats for wide publicity.

 Court of Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir while hearing a revision petition against Lok Adalat orders in food adulteration cases, said, “A Lok Adalat has no power, competence or jurisdiction to entertain a case relating to the offence that is not compoundable under the law.”

 While referring to seven cases for the commission of offences punishable under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act in Ramban heard by Lok Adalat, Justice Mansoor observed, “It appears that it has become a trend with the judicial officers to convene Lok Adalats to record that a number of cases were settled by them in order to get wide publicity. The Lok Adalat convened on July 15, 2008 at Ramban is an example.”

 Justice Mansoor said the core question involved in all the revision petitions against the Lok Adalat orders was, “whether an accused person can be convicted by the Lok Adalats on the basis of the confessional statements?”
 However, the Court maintained that the Lok Adalats had no jurisdiction to entertain a case relating to offence, which is not compoundable under law.

 The Court observed that the concept of convening the Lok Adalat was to settle the dispute once for all. “The purpose of the Legal Services Authorities Act is not to refer the cases, which are not cognizable by the Lok Adalat and try to settle the case and pass orders which are beyond its purview, competence, power and jurisdiction,” the Court observed.  

 Pertinently, the Lok Adalats were introduced in 2008 in the state and are held fortnightly in districts.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 IST