The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) will organise its second National Lok Adalat of 2026 on 9 May across the country, continuing its push for accessible, cost-effective, and expeditious justice delivery. The initiative, to be held under the leadership of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, and Justice Vikram Nath, Executive Chairman, aims to promote amicable settlement of disputes and reduce the mounting burden on India's court system.

Scale and Coverage

The National Lok Adalat will be conducted simultaneously at multiple levels — including High Courts, District Courts, Tribunals, Consumer Forums, and Permanent Lok Adalats — ensuring wide outreach across the country. In certain states and Union Territories, the exercise will be held on staggered dates: 13 June in Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal; 20 June in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Telangana; and 11 July in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka.

Disputes Covered

A broad range of matters will be taken up during the Lok Adalat, covering both pre-litigation and pending cases. These include criminal compoundable cases, cheque dishonour matters, bank recovery disputes, motor accident claims, service and pension issues, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce), labour matters, land acquisition cases, consumer disputes, utility bill issues, traffic challans, and other civil matters suitable for settlement. Special focus will also be placed on long-pending matters identified through the National Judicial Data Grid, as part of a broader effort to reduce pendency and enhance efficiency in justice delivery.

Track Record and Impact

According to NALSA, the Lok Adalat mechanism has delivered substantial results in recent years. Over 10.45 crore cases were settled through the initiative in 2024, while more than 14.84 crore cases were resolved across four National Lok Adalats in 2025. Notably, the first National Lok Adalat of 2026 alone saw over 4.06 crore cases settled, reflecting growing public trust and institutional momentum. This is the second such national-level exercise in 2026, building on a consistent upward trajectory in case resolution.

Why Lok Adalats Matter

NALSA emphasised that the Lok Adalat framework not only helps decongest overburdened courts but also preserves relationships between parties and significantly reduces litigation costs, making justice delivery more humane and accessible. Settlements reached at Lok Adalats are final, binding, and not subject to appeal — offering parties certainty and closure without prolonged legal battles. This comes amid persistent concerns about judicial pendency in India, where millions of cases remain stuck in courts for years.

About NALSA

NALSA was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and plays a crucial role in ensuring access to justice for marginalised and underprivileged sections of society. Its National Lok Adalat series is among the largest organised alternative dispute resolution exercises in the world, by volume of cases addressed.

With the 9 May Lok Adalat now days away, legal services authorities across the country are expected to intensify outreach to potential parties to encourage pre-litigation settlements and reduce the pipeline of new filings entering the formal court system.