Third National Lok Adalat, Cases Settled, NALSA’s Role, Benefits

Third National Lok Adalat of 2026 was held across India on 12 September 2026 by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). On a single day, courts and tribunals across the country, from High Courts to taluka courts, work as forums for settlement and conciliation instead of long trials. A Lok Adalat (“people’s court”) is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that helps both parties reach a mutually agreed settlement. It covers pre-litigation matters (disputes not yet in court) as well as pending court cases.

Third National Lok Adalat 2026 Key Highlights

• What it was: The Third National Lok Adalat of 2026 was organised across the country by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Saturday, 12 September 2026. Courtrooms and tribunals became spaces for dialogue, conciliation and friendly settlement instead of long, adversarial court fights.
• Cases settled: As per tentative figures till on 12 September 2026, a total of 2,10,39,112 cases were settled through consent-based dispute resolution, with a combined settlement value of ₹13,589.28 crore.
• Pre-litigation vs pending cases: Of the total, 1,90,75,743 were pre-litigation matters (disputes that had not yet reached a court) and 19,63,369 were pending court cases. This shows how many people used the Lok Adalat to settle disputes before they turned into long legal battles.
• Wide coverage: Lok Adalat benches were set up across 26 States and 7 Union Territories, from High Courts down to taluka courts. Judicial officers, advocates, para-legal volunteers and litigants all took part.
• Why it matters for litigants: Many people had been waiting years for a resolution. The Lok Adalat gave them a chance to end the dispute through a mutually agreed settlement, saving time, money and stress.
• Words from the top:
  • Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, said access to justice must reach every doorstep. He urged citizens to use Lok Adalats as a faster and simpler way to resolve disputes and build harmony.
  • Justice Vikram Nath, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA, highlighted their role in tackling judicial pendency. He said the process reduces long-pending cases and spares parties from prolonged litigation costs and delays.

Types of Cases Covered and Legal Status of Awards

• Cases taken up: The Lok Adalat dealt with a very wide range of disputes, including:
  • Cheque bounce cases
  • Motor accident claims
  • Matrimonial disputes
  • Labour matters and service disputes
  • Consumer complaints
  • Land acquisition cases and revenue cases
  • Succession disputes
  • Arbitration claims of small businesses
  • Compoundable criminal cases and traffic challans
  • Bank recovery matters and public utility grievances
• Priority for old cases: NALSA said long-pending matters identified through the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) were given special priority for resolution.
• Awards have the force of a court decree: Every award passed by a Lok Adalat carries the status and finality of a civil court decree and is binding on the parties.
• No appeal: Lok Adalat awards are not appealable, which brings the dispute to a final close.
• Court fee refund: Litigants are also entitled to a refund of the court fee they paid.
• Part of a bigger system: The National Lok Adalat sits within NALSA’s wider legal services framework, which includes free legal aid, legal awareness programmes, mediation and conciliation, victim compensation schemes, legal services clinics, and the work of panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers. The goal is that no one is denied justice because of economic or other disabilities.

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Third National Lok Adalat in Haryana

• Who led it: In Haryana, the Third National Lok Adalat was held on 12 September 2026 under the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA), guided by Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman of HALSA.
• Where it was held: It was conducted across all 22 districts and 38 sub-divisions of Haryana.
• Record numbers: A total of 8,82,297 cases were taken up, and 7,00,033 were settled amicably, giving an impressive disposal rate of 79%. These are the highest figures ever recorded by the state for a National Lok Adalat.
• Money settled: An amount of ₹230,06,65,824 (about ₹230 crore) was settled or awarded during the event.
• Benches and case types: A total of 184 benches handled both pre-litigation and pending matters, including civil disputes, matrimonial cases, motor accident claims, bank recovery matters, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, traffic challans and compoundable criminal offences. The figures also include pre-Lok Adalat sittings.
• Public trust: The large turnout shows growing faith in Lok Adalats as an effective form of alternative dispute resolution. Settlements saved parties time and litigation expenses and helped reduce case pendency in Haryana’s courts.
• A related traffic drive in Delhi: The 3rd Special Lok Adalat (Traffic) of 2026 was held on 12 July 2026 under the guidance of NALSA and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority. 

What Is a Lok Adalat?

• A Lok Adalat (“people’s court”) is an alternative dispute resolution forum where cases are settled through mutual agreement rather than a long trial. It works on compromise, conciliation and goodwill between both sides.
• Who runs it: National Lok Adalats are organised by NALSA, with State and District Legal Services Authorities carrying out the work on the ground, as seen in the Haryana example above.
• Why people prefer it:
  • Faster: disputes are often resolved in a single sitting.
  • Cheaper: no heavy lawyer or litigation costs, and the court fee is refunded.
  • Final: the award is binding and not appealable, so there are no endless appeals.
  • Friendlier: it protects relationships, which matters in family, neighbour and business disputes.
• Why this edition stands out: With over 2.10 crore cases settled and ₹13,589.28 crore resolved in a single day, the Third National Lok Adalat of 2026 shows how powerful consensual dispute resolution can be in reducing the burden on courts and bringing justice closer to ordinary people.