1. Subordinate Courts

2. In every state, below the High Courts, there is a hierarchy of Subordinate Courts in the districts separately for civilcriminalrevenue

3. The structure of Criminal Courts in a District The Sessions Court Court of the First Class Magistrate Court of the Second Class Magistrate

4. The structure of Civil Courts in a District The Court of the District JudgeThe Additional District JudgeSubordinate Civil Judge (1 st Class)The Court of Sub-Judge (or Munsif’s court)Court of Small Cases

5. The District Judges are appointed by the Governor in consultation with the High Court.

6. Court of the District Judge The Court of the District Judge is the highest civil court of a district. Deals with cases of land, property, money transactions, marriage, divorce, will and guardianship Sessions Court The Sessions Court is the highest criminal court of the district. Deals with all criminal cases – e.g., robbery, dacoits, murder etc

7. Revenue Courts Revenue courts are also part of district courts Deal with cases of land records as well as assessment and collection of land revenue from the farmers. Highest Revenue court is the Court of the Collector Lowest Revenue court is the Court of Tehsildar.

8. Lok Adalat – People’s Court It encourages the settlement of disputes through compromise between two parties. These courts are usually presided over by retired judges, social activists, or other members of the legal profession.

9. Lok Adalat – People’s Court The Lok Adalats can deal with all Civil Cases, Matrimonial Disputes, Land Disputes, Partition/Property Disputes, Labour Disputes etc., and compoundable criminal Cases. The first Lok Adalat was held on March 14, 1982 in Gujarat. Most of the cases are motor accident related disputes settled through lok adalats, Many public sector entities like Public sector Banks,Electricity Deptt also took benefit of Lok Adalats to settle its recovery related matters.

10. Lok Adalat - Advantages A Lok Adalat delivers speedy and inexpensive justice It reduces the work load of other courts The decisions passed by a Lok Adalat are final and binding on the parties. No appeal lies before any court against its decision. The Lok Adalat works in the spirit of compromise. This way both the parties feel that they have been treated fairly.

11. Benefits of Lok Adalat # First, there is no court fee and even if the case is already filed in the regular court, the fee paid will be refunded if the dispute is settled at the Lok Adalat. # Secondly, there is no strict application of the procedural laws and the Evidence Act while assessing the merits of the claim by the Lok Adalat. The parties to the disputes though represented by their advocate can interact with the Lok Adalat judge directly and explain their stand in the dispute and the reasons therefore, which is not possible in a regular court of law. # Thirdly, disputes can be brought before the Lok Adalat directly instead of going to a regular court first and then to the Lok Adalat? # Fourthly, the decision of the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties to the dispute and its order is capable of execution through legal process. No appeal lies against the order of the Lok Adalat whereas in the regular law courts there is always a scope to appeal to the higher forum on the decision of the trial court, which causes delay in the settlement of the dispute finally. The reason being that in a regular court, decision is that of the court but in Lok Adalat it is mutual settlement and hence no case for appeal will arise. In every respect the scheme of Lok Adalat is a boon to the litigant public, where they can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost.