Lok Adalat Awards in Cheque Bounce Cases Enforceable by Civil Courts: Andhra Pradesh High Court

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that Lok Adalat awards in cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act are executable as civil court decrees.

A petitioner, directed to pay ₹5 lakh, faced an execution petition and was ordered to undergo three months of civil imprisonment after defaulting. Challenging the order, the petitioner sought revision, but the High Court dismissed the plea.

The court relied on Supreme Court judgments in K.N. Govindan Kutty Menon v. C.D. Shaji and others, affirming that such awards are binding and enforceable through civil courts as per Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.