# Legal Aid Programme & Lok Adalats

- **Citation:** C.L.No. 80/VII
- **Court:** Allahabad High Court
- **Decided:** 1990-08-17
- **Case number:** C.L.No. 80/VII
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/allahabad-high-court/legal-aid-programme-lok-adalats-163958
- **Pages:** 5

## Text

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(ii)
Legal Aid Programme & Lok Adalats
C.L.No. 80/VII d-108/LAAB/LA dated August 17, 1990
I am directed to say that the Government of U.P. vide its Office Memorandum
No. 1593/VII-Aa-Nya-748/83, dated April 24, 1990, on the expiry of the term of Mr.
Justice R.C. Deo Sharma (Retired), Executive Chairman. U.P. Legal Aid & Advice Board
has appointed Mr. Justice B.L. Loomba (Retired) as Executive Chairman of the said
Board for a period of 3 years from the date of taking over charge.
On his assuming charge as such Executive Chairman has thanked all of you for
your co-operation as the President, District Legal Aid Committees and has desired to
emphasis upon the importance and need of the Legal Aid Programme specially the Lok
Adalats which forum acts as a supplement to the Courts to dispose of a large number of
cases through persuasion and compromise.
I am therefore, to say that you as President, District Legal Aid Committee will
adopt a positive outlook on the advice the directions issued by the Executive Chairman in
connection with Legal Aid and Lok Adalats.
(iii)
Service of Notice of Lok Adalat
C.L.No. 26 dated May 21, 1996

I have been directed to say that attention is not paid for service of notice regarding
Lok Adalat. The Court has taken a serious view of the matter.

You are, therefore, requested to take personal attention in the matter and see that
notices are served and returned before the date fixed for the Lok Adalat.
(iv)
/
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(v)
Organistion of Lok Adalat.
C.L. No. 54 / Dated: 21st September, 1996

Hon'ble the Chief Justice has decided that the organising of Lok Adalats be
systematized and Lok Adalat be held reqularly. Accordingly, it is directed that on 2.10.96
Lok Adalats be held in High Court, Allahabad, its Lucknow Bench and in all the districts
of the State of Uttar Pradesh . Thereafter the Lok Adalat be held at the end of avery
fortnight during the holiday regularly without fail.

All the arrangements for organizing Lok Adalat on 2.10.96 and thereafter made
immediately. The progress report of the Lok Adalat be sent to the Court regularly.
(vi)
Constitution of state Legal Services authority and District Legal Services
authorities
C.L. No. 64/VIId-108/Admn. Dated: 20th, 21st November, 1996
I am sending herewith a copy of the D.O.No. PS(R)/57/1996 dated November 2,
1996 with the request that cooperation be extended to the Principal secretary Judicial and
L.R. in the above matter.
Dear Sri Khem Karan,

Kindly refer to your D.O. 1/p.3/L.R./1996 dated August 30, 1996 and D.O. No.
23/Sat-Nayaya-Ka-Ni.1-96 dated October 30, 1996 regarding constitution of State Legal
Services Authority, District Legal Services Authorities and Taluka Legal Service
Committee.

You are requested to suggest the names for consideration of Hon'ble the Chief
Justice for recommending nomination of members by the Governor for the State Legal
Services Authority and District Legal Services Authorities. In doing so, you may consult
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the Chairman, U.P. Legal Aid and Advice Board, the District Judges and the District
Magistrates of the respective districts. The suggestions may be sent as early as possible
so that the authorities may constituted without any delay.
Your
Sincerely,
(N.S. Gahlot)
(vii)
Organization of Lok Adalat in the districts.
C.L. No. 71 Dated: 13th December, 1996

On the above subject, I have been directed to enclose the copy of the letter
received from Hon'ble executive Chairman, NLSA and to obtain requisite information
and views by an early date.

I am, therefore, to request you that kindly send the required information contained
in the letter latest by 1.1.1997.

Dear Brother Chief Justice,

Kindly refer to may letter dated 19th September, 1996 informing that NALSA and
the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & justice, with the concurrence of the
Chief Justice of India as its Patron-in-Chief have decided to organize Lok Adalats in a
systematic way at the end of every fortnight or during intervening holiday in all the
courts in the country including the High Court and eliciting support to the movement.

Dr. V.K. Agrawal, Union Law Secretary vide his letter dated 6th September, 1996,
requested all the District & Sessions Judges-cum-/Chairmen, District Legal Services
Authorities/ Legal Aid Committees to ensure that at least one Lok Adalat is organized in
every district on 2nd October, 1996 throughout the country and thereafter as many Lok
Adalat as may be possible during the months of October, November and December,
1996. It was desired that at least one Lok Adalat may be organized every week preferably
on Saturday and/or Sunday.

The Lok Adalat Movement has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at
New Delhi Courts, Patiala House on 2nd October, 1996.

Our appeal has mixed response. Of late, representations have been received that
holding Lok Adalts on every Saturday and/or Sunday or fortnightly is beset with
difficulties and tends to hamper the judicial work of the judicial officers charged with the
responsibility of holding Lok Adalats.

The case has been reviewed in consultation with the Chief Justice of India. It has
been decided that Lok Adalat Movement which has been provided a statutory base with
the enforcement of Legal Services Authorities Act has to be a continuous and on-going
legal aid programme. But care must be taken that the Lok Adalats are organized in a
systematic way and only when sufficient number of cases are available for being placed
before the Lok Adalat. It is, therefore, suggested that the Lok Adalats may be organized
not on Weekly of fortnightly basis, as indicated earlier, but after a gap of 4-6 weeks when
sufficient number of cases become available for being referred to the Lok Adalats.
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Needless to emphasise that due care has to be taken that social justice through
Lok Adalats is dispensed with in accordance with the principles of equity and natural
justice without diluting the quality of justice.

As regards release of matching grant-in-aid of Rs. 3,000/- per Lok Adalat, we
shall make all possible endeavours to honour the commitment made. To enable us to
make assessments of the financial requirement, I would request you to favour us with the
number of Lok Adalts organized on 2nd October, 1996 in various districts and also your
jurisdiction with performance results and also the time scheduled for Lok Adalats to be
organized in future. On receipt of the requisite information, instructions for release of the
matching grant-in-aid would be issued and it would be ensured that the amount of the
grant-in-aid is made available to the State Legal Services Authorities/ State Legal Aid &
Advice Board expeditiously for disbursement to the respective Districts for proper and
effective implementation of the Lok Adalat Programme throughout the country.
(viii) Output of Disposal of cases in Lok Adalats

C.L. No. 4. Dated: 13th February, 1997

It has come the to the notices of the Hon'ble Court that output of disposal of cases
in Lok Adalats is not appreciable and two to fifteen cases at times are being disposed in
Lok Adalats at many places.

Hon'ble Court after examining the situation has taken a decision that the Judicial
Officers may continue efforts for settlement of cases and their disposal through
conciliation. Thereafter, Lok Adalats be held on such dates in which appreciable numbers
of cases are there for holding the Lok Adalats.

Therefore, it has been decided that Lok Adalats be organized when appreciable
number of cases for disposal are available.

I am therefore, directed to request you to kindly bring to the notice of all the
Judicial officers sub-ordinate to the Hon'ble High Court for strict compliance of the
instructions relating to the holding of the Lok Adalats in future.
(ix)
Orders issued in the matter of State Legal Services Authority.
C.L. No. 24/Admin ̳G' Dated: 13th June, 1997

The Sate Legal Services Authority has been constituted in the State of Uttar
Pradesh. A Notification to this effect has been issued.

I am enclosing the copies of the office order issued by the Special Secretary and
Legal Remembrancer for your information.

I am, therefore, to request you that the office order issued by the Special Secretary
Law be brought to the knowledge of all the Judicial Officers and Specially the Secretary
and staff of District Legal Services Authority and Taluka Legal Services Committee.
(x)
Celebration of ̳Legal Aid Day' on 9th November 1998.
C.L. No. 55/ Dated: 2nd November, 1998

I am desired to inform you that 9th November, 1998 shall be celebrated as ̳Legal
Aid Day' by the District Legal Services Authority. Comprehensive instructions have
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already been sent by the State Legal Services Authority through there Letter
No.31/SLSA/267-98 dated October 23, 1998.

You are, therefore, requested to celebrate ̳ Legal Aid Day' on 9th November,
1998 keeping in view the instructions of the State Legal Services Authority in this regard.
(xi)
Disposal of cases through Lok Adalats.
C.L. No. 31/VII-d/108 Dated: 23rd December, 1999

The disposal of cases through Lok Adalats was reviewed in the meeting of the
State Legal Services Authority, Hon'ble the Chief Justice (The patron in Chief of the
State Legal Services Authority) has shown his concern and observed that a large number
of litigant in the State feel handicapped in the pursuit of justice on account of poverty,
illiteracy, social backwardness, or other disabilities. The goal set out under Article 39 A
of the Constitution of India cannot be achieved unless the District Judiciary is involved in
Legal Aid Programme and every Judicial Officer in the District helps to instill in the
mind of the poor and weak the confidence that our administration of justice is committed
to ensure evenhanded justice for all. In the past, the graph with regard to the holding of
Lok Adalat and disposal of cases presented a very discouraging situation.

I am, therefore, directed to request you to take the following measures:
(I)
Every Judicial Officer should take care of the poor litigants who appear to
be handicapped or at a disadvantageous and their matters be referred for
Legal Aid facilities.
(II)
Well structured and broad based legal aid programme should be taken
U.P. and every judicial officer should be associated with the programme.
(III)
Legal Aid programme must be strictly supervised by the District officer so
that good quality and competent legal aid can be ensured.
(xii)
Establishment of Lok Adalats in hills and other newly created districts on
permanent basis.
C.L. No. 12/VIId-108 Dated 17th February, 2000

In continuation of the circular letter No.10/VII-108 dated May 4, 1999 I am to
inform you that with a view to provide additional forum to the Litigants for redressal of
their disputes, Hon'ble Court keeping in view the provisions of Section 19(2), (3) and (4)
of the Legal Service Authorities Act, 1987 has decided to establish the permanent and
continuous Lok Adalats. Following measures are required to be adopted in the District
Nanital, Almora, Pithoragarh, Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Udamshing
Nagar. Ambedkar Nagar, Auraiya, Baghpat, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chhatrapati Shauji
Mahraj Nagar, Gautambuddha Nagar, Hathras, Jyitiba Phule Nagar, Kannauj, Shrawasti:
(a)
The bench of permanent Lok Adalat comprising of District Judge/Civil
Judge (Sr. Division/Civil Judge ( Jr, Division) and one person having
qualification as prescribed in Rule 17 of the U.P. State Legal Services
Authority Rules 1996 shall be made by the District Judge keeping in view
the nature of cases.