New Delhi, May 6: A nationwide effort to reduce court pendency and improve access to justice will see the second National Lok Adalat of 2026 conducted on May 9, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands scheduled to participate on June 20 as part of a staggered rollout.
The initiative, organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), aims to facilitate the speedy resolution of disputes through amicable settlements across multiple judicial forums. The exercise will be held at various levels, including High Courts, District Courts, Tribunals, Consumer Forums, and Permanent Lok Adalats, ensuring broad accessibility.
The programme will be conducted under the leadership of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, and Justice Vikram Nath, Executive Chairman. It focuses on promoting participatory mechanisms that allow parties to resolve disputes without prolonged litigation.
In addition to the nationwide event on May 9, several states and union territories will host Lok Adalats on later dates. Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will conduct proceedings on June 13, followed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Telangana on June 20. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka are scheduled for July 11.
A wide range of cases will be taken up during the Lok Adalat, including both pre-litigation and pending matters. These cover criminal compoundable cases, cheque dishonour disputes, bank recovery cases, motor accident claims, service and pension issues, matrimonial matters excluding divorce, labour disputes, land acquisition cases, consumer complaints, utility bill disputes, traffic challans, and other civil cases suitable for settlement.
NALSA stated that the Lok Adalat system continues to function as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that reduces the burden on courts while offering faster and cost-effective outcomes. The approach relies on mutual agreement between parties, making settlements binding and reducing the need for prolonged legal proceedings.
The scale of the initiative has expanded significantly in recent years. In 2024, over 10.45 crore cases were settled through National Lok Adalats, while more than 14.84 crore cases were resolved in 2025 across four such drives. The first National Lok Adalat of 2026 alone recorded the settlement of over 4.06 crore cases.
Authorities have also identified long pending matters using the National Judicial Data Grid, which will receive special focus during the upcoming Lok Adalat sessions as part of efforts to reduce case backlog.
NALSA, constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, plays a central role in ensuring access to justice, particularly for marginalised and underprivileged sections. The Lok Adalat framework, it noted, helps decongest courts while making the justice delivery process more accessible and efficient.
With Andaman and Nicobar Islands scheduled to join the initiative later in June, the exercise is expected to extend its impact to remote regions, bringing dispute resolution mechanisms closer to the public.
