The second National Lok Adalat of 2025, which was scheduled to take place on May 10 in four states—Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh—has been cancelled following an instruction issued by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Friday, May 9, 2025. The cancellation comes amid serious public safety and law and order concerns in the border districts and potentially affected states.
According to a statement from NALSA, the decision was made with the approval of the Executive Chairman. The authorities emphasized the importance of ensuring public safety in the wake of prevailing circumstances that could jeopardize the smooth conduct of the event.
The State Legal Services Authorities have been directed to reschedule the National Lok Adalat to a suitable date and to provide advance notice to the public, parties, and other stakeholders involved. This means that those looking to resolve disputes through this platform will have to wait for a new date to be announced.
The decision regarding the organization or postponement of Lok Adalat in other states and union territories will be left to the discretion of the Executive Chairpersons of the respective State Legal Services Authorities and High Court Legal Services Authorities. This will be based on a security assessment conducted in consultation with local administration.
In a related development, NALSA has already announced that the Lok Adalat will be organized in several states on future dates. Specifically, it is set to take place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana on June 14, 2025; in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on June 21, 2025; in Andhra Pradesh on July 5, 2025; and in Gujarat and Karnataka on July 12, 2025.
The National Lok Adalat that has been cancelled was expected to address a wide range of disputes at both pre-litigation and pending stages. These disputes included criminal compoundable offenses, traffic challans, plea bargaining, revenue cases, bank recovery matters, motor accident claims, cheque dishonour cases, labour disputes, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce cases), land acquisition cases, intellectual property rights matters, consumer matters, and other civil cases.
The Lok Adalat system is designed to facilitate the speedy resolution of disputes through mutual agreement. It serves as a vital mechanism for decongesting courts and providing accessible justice to the public. However, the cancellation of this event raises concerns about the backlog of cases that may continue to grow as the Lok Adalat is a popular forum for settling disputes without lengthy litigation.
In Chandigarh, the District Legal Services Authority confirmed that the National Lok Adalat scheduled for May 10 at the Sector-43 District Court has also been postponed, with a new date yet to be announced. Residents and interested parties have been advised to check the authority's website or contact them for updates.
Residents can visit the website www.chdslsa.gov.in or reach out via email to [email protected] or by phone at 0172-2742999 and 7087112348 for more information. Additionally, inquiries can be directed to the District Legal Services Authority in Chandigarh at [email protected].
In Punjab, a spokesperson for the Punjab State Legal Services Authority indicated that the postponement was due to security concerns, reiterating that the new date for organizing the National Lok Adalats will be announced once the situation in the state becomes conducive.
The cancellation of the National Lok Adalat reflects the ongoing challenges faced by legal institutions in maintaining order and safety in turbulent times. As the authorities navigate these complexities, it remains to be seen how they will adapt their strategies to ensure that justice remains accessible to all citizens.
While the Lok Adalat system aims to alleviate the burden on the judicial system, the recent decision underscores the importance of security assessments and public safety in the planning of such events. Stakeholders are hopeful that the subsequent Lok Adalats scheduled for June and July will proceed as planned, allowing individuals to resolve their disputes effectively.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, the role of Lok Adalats in providing timely and efficient justice remains crucial. The anticipation for the rescheduled dates reflects the community's reliance on these platforms to address their legal issues without the prolonged processes often associated with traditional court proceedings.
