Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

The appellant filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which the magistrate referred to a Lok Adalat for settlement. The parties reached a compromise and the Lok Adalat passed an award, but the respondent failed to honour the payment schedule, leading the appellant to file an exec…

The respondent, Abhijit Singh Pawar, applied for police posts in Madhya Pradesh and disclosed in an affidavit that a criminal case (Sections 323, 325, 506, 34) was pending against him. Within four days the parties compromised and the offences were compounded under Section 320 of the Cr.P.C., resulting in his acquittal.…

The Supreme Court examined a suit where the plaintiff sought recovery and the trial court, after an application under Section 89 of the CPC, formulated issues and referred the matter to arbitration despite the defendants' refusal. The Court held that Section 89 requires a preliminary hearing after pleadings, a summary …

Manoharan filed a suit seeking a mandatory injunction and reconveyance of land after a loan transaction, but paid only one‑tenth of the court fee of Rs.28,797. The Sub‑Judge rejected his application for an extension of time to pay the balance fee, leading to dismissal of the suit. Manoharan appealed, also seeking condo…

The petitioners sought directions for the Union, State Governments and Union Territories to comply with the Supreme Court's earlier orders on the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, noting that the Act had been repealed and replaced by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Court examined the legislati…

Cheriyath Jyothi complained to the Gram Panchayat that a neighbour had erected an unauthorised building used as a rubber‑sheet plant, violating the Kerala Panchayat Building Rules, 2011 and posing health hazards. The Lok Adalat ordered the respondent to demolish the existing structure within three months, and the execu…

The petitioner, a prison inmate, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a permanent mechanism to ensure free and timely legal aid for prisoners and to address overcrowded, unhygienic prison conditions. The Court examined the constitutional mandate under Articles 21 and 39‑A, the Legal Services Authorities Act, …

The appellant, Sakina Sultanali Sunesara, challenged two consent decrees arising from compromises in suits concerning disputed land, alleging she had no notice of the compromises and that they were procured by fraud. She filed applications under Order XLIII Rule 1‑A to set aside the decrees, while the respondents argue…

The Supreme Court dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by Brijesh Kumar challenging his conviction, finding no merit to interfere with the trial and high court judgments. While disposing the petition, the Court noted that the counsel appointed as amicus curiae for the petitioner was only given the impugned judgme…

The appellant filed a civil suit for specific performance which was referred to mediation under Section 89 of the CPC and settled amicably; he sought a full refund of the court fees paid, but the trial court allowed only a 50% refund. He challenged this in a writ petition, arguing that Section 16 of the Court Fees Act,…

The appellant, a house owner, was charged with electricity theft after BSES issued a bill of Rs.97,786 and filed a criminal case. The parties settled the dispute in a Permanent Lok Adalat, agreeing that the appellant would pay Rs.83,120 as full and final settlement, which he duly paid. Despite the settlement, BSES late…

The appeal concerned an award of a Permanent Lok Adalat (PLA) that had granted Canara Bank repayment of a loan from G S Jayarama without any recorded conciliation. The High Court had set aside the award, holding that the PLA lacked adjudicatory power and had bypassed mandatory conciliation steps. The Supreme Court exam…

The appellant, Anokhilal, was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder of a nine‑year‑old girl and sentenced to death along with several other terms of imprisonment. He was represented by an Amicus Curiae appointed by the Legal Services Authority on the same day that charges were framed, leaving the counsel no time to …

The Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action, an NGO, filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking comprehensive guidelines for the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), including the appointment of exclusive Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) and support mecha…

The parties to a partition suit entered into a compromise that was recorded by a Lok Adalat on 7 July 2012, which under Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 is deemed a decree of a civil court. Plaintiffs 4‑6 later alleged that their signatures were obtained by fraud and filed writ petitions seeking t…

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and other NGOs filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and its 1995 Rules, alleging widespread non‑implementation by State and Central authorities. They pleaded for directions…

The Union of India filed a money suit of over Rs 8.73 crore in a Commercial Court in August 2019 without first complying with the pre‑institution mediation requirement of Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The defendant, Dhanbad Fuels Pvt. Ltd., raised a preliminary objection and sought rejection of the pl…

The appellant Ramanand (alias Nandlal Bharti) was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly murdering his wife and four children, based largely on circumstantial evidence comprising a discovery statement of the murder weapon, extra‑judicial confessions to two witnesses, alleged motive stemming from an extramarital…

Rajoo was convicted of gang‑rape and appealed to the High Court, which upheld his conviction but did not provide him with legal representation at the appellate stage. The Supreme Court examined whether, under Article 39‑A of the Constitution and the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, an accused in custody is entitle…

The Union Territory of Chandigarh Administration sought to appoint candidates as constables, but two respondents were denied employment after a Screening Committee found them unsuitable despite their acquittal in criminal cases under IPC sections 323 and 506. The respondents challenged the cancellation, arguing that an…

The Estate Officer filed Writ Petition No. 8074 of 2011 before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which was later referred to a Lok Adalat on 30 November 2013. The Lok Adalat members examined the merits of the petition and dismissed it, prompting the appellant to argue that the Lok Adalat exceeded its jurisdiction under th…

Bhargavi Constructions filed a civil suit for specific performance of a land sale, which was later settled by a written compromise and an award was passed by a Lok Adalat on 22‑08‑2007. The plaintiffs later alleged fraud and misrepresentation in obtaining that award and instituted a suit seeking its declaration as void…

The Supreme Court entertained Writ Petition (Civil) No. 406 of 2013 concerning inhuman conditions in 1,382 Indian prisons. Relying on earlier decisions, the Court affirmed that prisoners are persons entitled to fundamental rights, including dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. It examined the persistent proble…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 seeking implementation of the Srikrishna Commission's recommendations on the 1992-93 Mumbai riots, including compensation for victims, tracing of missing persons, and police reforms. The Court observed that while the Commission's report is not binding, the …

The Supreme Court examined a claim by a passenger against Indigo Airlines for compensation due to a prolonged flight delay, alleged deficiency in service, and alleged illegal detention at Hyderabad airport. The Court held that the Permanent Lok Adalat in Hyderabad had jurisdiction to entertain the dispute despite the a…

Sovaran Singh Prajapati was convicted of murdering his wife and daughter under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and sentenced to death by the Trial Court, a judgment affirmed by the Allahabad High Court. The appellant challenged the conviction on the ground that the trial was not a fair trial, citing numerous procedural irregu…

The Bar Council of India challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 22‑A to 22‑E of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (as inserted by the 2002 Amendment), arguing that they were arbitrary, violated Articles 14 and 21, denied a right of appeal and encroached on the jurisdiction of special statutes. The Su…

The dispute arose from a land acquisition notification where the original compensation award was Rs.24,033 per bigha. The respondents did not file an application under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, but later a reference was made and a Lok Adalat, under Section 20 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, p…

The Supreme Court examined the chronic delay in disposal of serious criminal cases in district courts, noting that many stays were issued by High Courts under Art. 226 of the Constitution and Sections 397/482 of the CrPC. It evaluated the Law Commission's "rate of disposal" method and the criticisms thereof, and consid…

The appellant State of Madhya Pradesh challenged a Division Bench order that had set aside the Superintendent of Police’s refusal to grant a compassionate appointment to the respondent, Parvez Khan, who sought recruitment to the police service after his father’s death in service. The respondent had two criminal cases p…

The Kodungallur Film Society filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking directions to prevent mob violence against cultural establishments, especially following protests over films like Padmaavat. The Court examined whether the State must implement the guidelines from In Re: Destruction of Public and Private Proper…