UPSC Prelims 2009 Q84: Indian Polity – Judiciary
With reference to Lok Adalats, consider the following statements :
1. An award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and no appeal lies
against thereto before any court.
2. Matrimonial/Family disputes are not covered under Lok Adalat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Checking two claims about Lok Adalats
These statements examine the binding nature of Lok Adalat awards and their case-type coverage.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree, no appeal lies against it | Correct | Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, a Lok Adalat award is deemed a decree of a civil court and is final, with no appeal permitted against it |
| 2. Matrimonial/family disputes are not covered under Lok Adalat | Incorrect | Matrimonial and family disputes are, in fact, commonly referred to and settled through Lok Adalats, so this exclusion claim is false |
Correcting the second claim:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award finality | No appeal lies against a Lok Adalat award (correct) |
| Matrimonial disputes | ARE covered under Lok Adalats (contrary to statement 2) |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The no-appeal, civil-court-decree status of Lok Adalat awards is accurate; matrimonial disputes ARE covered, contrary to statement 2.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2's exclusion claim about matrimonial disputes is false, so '2 only' is wrong.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is inaccurate, so 'both' cannot be correct.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is accurate, so 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
A Lok Adalat award is indeed deemed a civil court decree with no appeal — but matrimonial/family disputes ARE covered under Lok Adalats, contrary to statement 2's exclusion claim.
Remember
Lok Adalat awards are deemed final civil court decrees (no appeal); matrimonial/family disputes ARE covered under Lok Adalats.
Common mistakes
- Assuming matrimonial/family disputes are excluded from Lok Adalat's scope, when they are actually commonly settled there.
- Not knowing the no-appeal, civil-court-decree finality of Lok Adalat awards.
- Confusing Lok Adalat's case-type coverage with more limited dispute-resolution forums.
Exam tip
Lok Adalat awards are final civil-court decrees, with no appeal — and they DO cover matrimonial/family disputes.
Sources
- Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
- Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, Chapter VI (Lok Adalats), Sections 19 to 22