The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 · VI — LOK ADALATS

Section 22. Powers of

In force · As amended up to 2026-08

22. Powers of[2] [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat.]— (1) The[2] [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall, for the purposes of holding any determination under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely: — (a) the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath; - (b) the discovery and production of any document; - (c) the reception of evidence on affidavits; (d) the requisitioning of any public record or document or copy of such record or document from any court or office; and - (e) such other matters as may be prescribed. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers contained in sub-section (1), every[2] [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall have the requisite powers to specify its own procedure for the determination of any dispute coming before it. (3) All proceedings before a[2] [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 (45 of 1860) and every[2] [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purpose of section195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974). 3[CHAPTER VIA PRE-LITIGATION CONCILIATION AND SETTLEMENT

Source: India Code