All questions of Subordinate Courts for BPSC (Bihar) Exam

Below the District and Sessions Court stands the Court of Subordinate Judge on the civil side and the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on the criminal side. The subordinate judge exercises unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction over civil suits'. The chief judicial magistrate decides criminal cases which are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to seven years.

At the lowest level, on the civil side, is the Court of Munsiff and on the criminal side, is the Court of Judicial Magistrate. The munsiff possess limited jurisdiction and decides civil cases of small pecuniary stake". The judicial magistrate tries criminal cases which are punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years.

The correct answer is option 'C' - Both 1 and 2.

Explanation:
- The first statement is correct. The award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties involved in the dispute. It has the same status as a decree of a civil court. This means that the parties are legally obligated to comply with the decision of the Lok Adalat. If any party fails to comply with the award, the other party can enforce it through the civil court.
- The second statement is also correct. The award given by the Lok Adalat is non-appealable. This means that the parties cannot challenge the decision of the Lok Adalat in a higher court. Once the award is given, it becomes final and cannot be appealed.

Lok Adalat is a system of alternative dispute resolution in India. It aims to provide a speedy and cost-effective resolution to disputes, especially in cases of pending court cases. Lok Adalats are organized at various levels, including the National Level, State Level, District Level, and Taluk Level.

The Lok Adalat comprises of a panel of members, including a judicial officer, social workers, and legal professionals. The Lok Adalat follows a conciliatory approach to resolve disputes. The parties involved in the dispute are encouraged to negotiate and reach a mutually acceptable settlement. If a settlement is reached, it is recorded as an award by the Lok Adalat.

The award by the Lok Adalat has certain legal characteristics. It is considered to be a decree of a civil court and is binding on the parties. It has the same enforceability as a decree of a civil court. The award can be executed through the civil court if required.

One of the key features of the Lok Adalat is its non-appealable nature. Once the award is given, the parties cannot challenge it in a higher court. This ensures the finality and speedy resolution of disputes. However, it is important to note that if the parties are not satisfied with the outcome of the Lok Adalat, they still have the option to approach the regular court for resolution.

In conclusion, the award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties and has the status of a decree of a civil court. It is non-appealable, meaning the parties cannot challenge the decision in a higher court.

The first Lok Adalat camp in the post-independence era was organized in Gujarat in 1982. This initiative proved very successful in settlement of disputes. Consequently, the institution of Lok Adalat started spreading to other parts of the country.