Permanent Lok Adalats Don't Have Inherent Power to Review Cases on Merits : Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that Section 22D of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, does not empower Permanent Lok Adalats to review decisions on merits.

The ruling came in a writ petition challenging a Lok Adalat’s refusal to reassess evidence already evaluated and concluded. The High Court cited the Supreme Court judgment in Kapra Mazdoor Ekta Union v. Birla Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd., clarifying that recall powers are limited to correcting procedural lapses, not relitigation.

Dismissing the plea, the Court held that reassessment of evidence amounts to a merit review, which can be only done when explicitly stated by the legislature.