Award, Jurisdiction and Powers of the Lok-Adalat

1. Award
   Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 deals with Award of Lok Adalat. The Lok-Adalat is empowered to pass an Award for a dispute which is referred to it for determination.
2. It may be noted that, every Award passed by the Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a decree of a civil court.
3. The Award delivered by the Lok Adalat shall be final and binding upon all the parties to the dispute.
4. No appeal shall lie to any court against such Award of the Lok-Adalat.
5. Jurisdiction
   The Lok Adalat shall have authority to decide and to arrive at a settlement between the parties to a dispute in respect of the following matters:
1. Any matter pending before it; or
2. Any case which is falling within its jurisdiction and is not brought before any court for which the Lok Adalat is organized.
3. The Lok Adalat can also compromise and settle criminal cases which are compoundable in nature under the law.
6. Powers
   Section 22 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 deals with Powers of Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat. The Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat shall have the same powers as of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, while deciding the following matters:
1. To summon and enforce the attendance of any witness
2. To examine a witness on oath
3. To discover and produce documents
4. To take evidence on affidavits
5. To requisition public records or documents from any court or office
6. To do such other matters as may be prescribed
7. Every Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat shall have the power to specify its own procedure for the determination of any dispute.
8. All proceedings before a Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of Sections 193, 219 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code, and every Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of Section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

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