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The short answer
A Lok Adalat in Odisha is a settlement forum organised by the Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA), the District Legal Services Authorities and taluk committees under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. If the parties agree, the Lok Adalat records the compromise as an award, which is final, binding and executable like a court decree, with no appeal, and any court fee paid is refunded. National Lok Adalats are held across the state on fixed Saturdays; a Permanent Lok Adalat handles public utility disputes. Mediation, through court-annexed centres and under the Mediation Act, 2023, is a separate, private settlement process.
What a Lok Adalat is
A Lok Adalat in Odisha (loka adalata, "people's court") is not a regular court. It is a bench of a judicial officer and one or two members (an advocate or social worker) that helps the parties reach a compromise. It is organised under Chapter VI of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 by:
- the Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA), Cuttack;
- the Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee for High Court cases;
- the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in each district, chaired by the District Judge;
- Taluk (sub-divisional) Legal Services Committees.
Nobody can be forced to settle. If there is no agreement, the case goes back to the court where it was pending and continues in the ordinary way.
Kinds of Lok Adalat
| Type | What it handles | When |
|---|---|---|
| National Lok Adalat | Pending court cases and pre-litigation matters, in all courts on the same day | Fixed dates set by NALSA; in 2026: 14 March, 9 May, 12 September and 12 December |
| State / district Lok Adalats | Pending and pre-litigation matters, sometimes on a single theme (bank recovery, MACT, family) | As announced by OSLSA or the DLSA |
| Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services) | Disputes with public utility services such as transport, post and telecom, electricity, water, hospitals, insurance and banking, before any case is filed | Sits regularly; see below |
Which cases can go to a Lok Adalat
- Civil suits, money recovery, partition and property disputes.
- Motor accident claims, where insurers often make settlement offers.
- Cheque bounce cases and other compoundable criminal offences.
- Matrimonial and maintenance matters (other than divorce itself, which needs a court decree), labour disputes, land acquisition compensation.
- Pre-litigation matters: bank and finance company dues, electricity and telephone bills, water charges, before any case is filed.
Non-compoundable criminal offences cannot be settled at a Lok Adalat. Traffic challans are often disposed of at National Lok Adalats; check the notice for your district.
How to get your case placed before a Lok Adalat
- Pending case: either party (or both) applies to the court where the case is pending, or the court itself refers it if it thinks settlement is possible, under Section 20 of the 1987 Act. Ask the court office or the DLSA a few weeks before the National Lok Adalat date.
- Pre-litigation: apply in writing to the DLSA or Taluk Committee with the details of the dispute and the other party. The DLSA issues notice to the other side, for example a bank or electricity company.
- On the day: attend with identity proof and documents. If a settlement is reached, the terms are written down and signed by the parties, and the bench signs the award.
Help is available on the NALSA legal services helpline 15100, and at the DLSA office in the district court campus. Legal aid lawyers can also represent eligible people; see free legal aid in Odisha.
Effect of a Lok Adalat award
- Deemed decree: under Section 21, every award is treated as a decree of a civil court, or an order of the court where the case came from, and can be executed.
- Final, no appeal: no appeal lies against an award. The Supreme Court (State of Punjab v Jalour Singh, 2008) has held that an award can be challenged only by a writ petition on limited grounds, such as fraud or the absence of real consent; see writ petitions in the Orissa High Court.
- Court fee refund: where a pending case referred by a court is settled, the court fee paid is refunded under the Court-fees Act.
Because there is no appeal, read every term before signing: the amount, the dates of payment, what happens on default, and whether the settlement covers all claims.
Permanent Lok Adalat for public utility services
Chapter VI-A (Sections 22A to 22E) of the 1987 Act sets up Permanent Lok Adalats for public utility services. OSLSA has constituted a Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services) for Odisha. It differs from an ordinary Lok Adalat in three ways:
- it takes up a dispute only before a case is filed in any court, on an application by either party;
- if the parties do not settle, it can decide the dispute on merits, and its award is final and binding;
- it has no jurisdiction over non-compoundable offences, and has a pecuniary limit (raised to Rs 1 crore by central notification); check with OSLSA where your matter will be heard.
For electricity, banking and insurance disputes there are also statutory forums (the discom Grievance Redressal Forum, the RBI Ombudsman, the Insurance Ombudsman) and the consumer commission; the choice affects time, cost and appeal rights.
Mediation in Odisha
Mediation is a confidential process in which a trained mediator helps the parties negotiate. Unlike a Lok Adalat, it may take several sessions.
- Court-annexed mediation: under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, courts refer suitable cases, especially family, partition and commercial disputes, to mediation. The Orissa High Court has a mediation centre at Cuttack, and district courts run mediation centres through the DLSAs. A settlement is placed before the referring court, which passes a decree or order on it.
- Commercial disputes: for commercial suits of the specified value that do not seek urgent interim relief, Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 requires pre-institution mediation, which the DLSA conducts.
- The Mediation Act, 2023: the Act provides for voluntary pre-litigation mediation, a time limit of 120 days (extendable by 60 days), and a signed mediated settlement agreement that is enforceable like a court judgment and can be challenged only on limited grounds such as fraud or impersonation within 90 days. The Act is being brought into force in stages; the Mediation Council of India was established by a central notification in late August 2026. Check whether a particular provision is in force before relying on it.
Matters such as serious criminal offences, disputes affecting third parties' rights, and certain matters listed in the Act are not suitable for mediation.
For how an ordinary case moves when it does not settle, see civil suit process in Odisha. Courts and DLSA offices are listed on the courts page, and related work is described under civil litigation.
Odia terms used in this guide
| Odia | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ଲୋକ ଅଦାଲତ | loka adalata | Lok Adalat, people's court for settlement |
Frequently asked questions
When is the next National Lok Adalat in Odisha?
NALSA's 2026 calendar fixed 14 March, 9 May, 12 September and 12 December 2026. The DLSA in each district publishes notices and takes applications a few weeks before each date.
Can a Lok Adalat award be appealed?
No. An award is final and binding. It can be challenged only by a writ petition in the High Court on narrow grounds such as fraud or lack of genuine consent.
What is a Permanent Lok Adalat?
A Lok Adalat for disputes with public utility services such as electricity, transport, telecom, insurance and banking. It takes up matters before a case is filed and, if there is no settlement, can decide the dispute on merits.
Is the court fee refunded after settlement in a Lok Adalat?
Yes. When a pending case referred by a court is settled, the court fee paid is refunded under the Court-fees Act.
Can a criminal case be settled in a Lok Adalat?
Only compoundable offences, such as cheque bounce cases and some minor offences. Non-compoundable offences cannot be settled there.
What is the difference between Lok Adalat and mediation?
A Lok Adalat usually settles a case in one sitting and its award is a deemed decree. Mediation is a confidential, often longer negotiation with a trained mediator, after which the settlement is recorded by the court or, under the Mediation Act, signed as an enforceable agreement.
Official sources
- Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (India Code)
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- Odisha State Legal Services Authority
- The Mediation Act, 2023: Gazette of India
- Orissa High Court, Cuttack
General information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts and documents, and the law and official procedures change. Check the current position with the concerned office, or take advice on your own facts, before acting.