The Judiciary: A Pillar of Indian Democracy

Set up more fast-track courts; Frequent setting of Lok Adalats; Set up an All-India Judicial Service similar to that of the Indian Administrative Service; All courts should use digital technology and be converted into ecourts for speedier delivery of justice (India has its first paperless ecourt in the High Court of Delhi); The provision for summary trials, plea bargaining, compounding procedure code to be utilized more frequently; Setting up of new courts and the appointment of retired honest judges on a contractual basis; Shift-working of courts; Setting up of more specialized courts/tribunals; and Setting up of circuitbenches not only of the state high courts, but also of the Supreme Court of India.

Lok Adalat is a system of alternative dispute resolution developed in India. It roughly means "People's court". India has had a long history of resolving disputes through the mediation of village elders. The system of Lok Adalats is an improvement and is based on the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. Lok Adalat is a non-adversarial system, whereby mock courts (called Lok Adalats) are held by the State Authority, District Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, High Court Legal Services Committee, or Taluk Legal Services Committee. They are held periodically for exercising such jurisdiction as they determine. These are usually presided over by retired judges, social activists, or other members of the legal profession. The Lok Adalats can deal with all Civil Cases, Matrimonial Disputes, Land Disputes, Partition/Property Disputes, Labour Disputes etc., and compoundable criminal Cases.