Breach of Lok Adalat Order Will Not Amount to Contempt of Court: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that Lok Adalats are not courts under the Contempt of Courts Act, and breaches of their orders do not amount to contempt. 

A division bench of Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Kirti Singh overturned a single bench's contempt notice against state authorities for violating an undertaking given before a Lok Adalat. 

Citing Brajnandan Sinha v. Jyoti Narain (1956), the court clarified that Lok Adalats lacked judicial authority to impose contempt.

It also criticised the arbitrary use of contempt jurisdiction and highlighted the need to follow proper procedures under the Contempt of Courts Act.