Lok Adalat
From India
Religious and customary lawProcedure and evidence
What it means
A 'people's court': an Indian forum, set up by statute, where disputes are settled by agreement and conciliation, free of charge. A settlement reached there has the force of a court decree.
Why it travels badly
It is not a court in the usual sense, since it does not decide by applying law to a contested set of facts, and it is not private mediation either. It is a statutory forum for agreed settlements, whose award is final and cannot be appealed.
How other systems say it
Lok Adalat (Legal Services Authorities Act 1987)
Awards are deemed decrees of a civil court and are final.
Common law
court-annexed mediation
The closest comparison, though a Lok Adalat settlement is binding and not appealable.
Tip for translators and students
Translate as 'people's court' only with an explanation. 'Statutory conciliation forum' is more exact.
Related: Adat, Jury and lay judges
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s glossary is an educational overview of the main differences between legal systems. It is not legal advice.
