Supreme Court: Lok Adalat Awards Can Be Challenged Only Through Article 227 Supervisory Jurisdiction

The Supreme Court held that an award passed by a Lok Adalat under the Legal Services Authorities Act cannot be annulled or questioned before an Executing Court.

The Court said such awards attain statutory finality and can only be challenged through the High Court’s supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution.

It observed that objections filed in execution proceedings do not constitute an alternative remedy, as an Executing Court is limited to enforcing the award and cannot examine its validity.

Setting aside the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s contrary view, the Court restored the writ petition for reconsideration. 

[Dilip Mehta v. Rakesh Gupta & Ors.]