HC: Lok Adalats shouldn’t act like regular courts

Cuttack: Orissa high court has advised Lok Adalats to refrain from acting as regular courts and instead limit their roles to conciliation.The observation was made while quashing an award given by the permanent Lok Adalat, Balangir-Sonepur, for installation of coach indication boards at Balangir railway station 10 years back. The single-judge bench of Justice S K Panigrahi on June 25 said, “Lok Adalats should resist their temptation to play the role of regular judges rather they should constantly strive to function as conciliators.”“The endeavour and effort of the Lok Adalats should be to guide and persuade the parties, with reference to principles of justice, equity and fair play to compromise and settle the dispute by explaining the pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages of their respective claims,” Justice Panigrahi observed.“The issue referred cannot be decided by the permanent Lok Adalat. It can only be decided by the high court or the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution,” he ruled. Two advocates of Balangir Bar Association had filed an application seeking direction to the station manager, Balangir, to install coach indication boards.Acting on it, the permanent Lok Adalat issued an award directing the station manager to move the railway authorities within two months from the date of order for the release of funds to install coach indication boards on July 4, 2014. It was stated that the Railway Board through a notification on provisions of passenger amenities had issued comprehensive instructions that coach indication system cannot be provided at stations which come under the categories — A, B, C, D, E and F. Balangir railway station comes under category B.

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