22. Powers of Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat
22. Powers of [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat.]—(1) The [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall, for the purposes of holding any determination under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit in respect of the following matters, namely:—
the summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examining him on oath;
the discovery and production of any document;
the reception of evidence on affidavits;
the requisitioning of any public record or document or copy of such record or document from any court or office; and
such other matters as may be prescribed.
Without prejudice to the generality of the powers contained in sub-section (1), every [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall have the requisite powers to specify its own procedure for the determination of any dispute coming before it.
All proceedings before a [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall be deemed to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193, 219 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and every [Lok Adalat or Permanent Lok Adalat] shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for the purpose of section195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
Amendment notes (1)
- Subs w.e.f. 11-6-2002 . Subs. by Act 37 of 2002, s. 3, for "Lok Adalat" (w.e.f. 11-6-2002).