Laxmikanth MCQs: Lok Adalats and Other Courts | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Statement 1: Lok Adalat operates as a voluntary and conciliatory agency.
Statement 2: Lok Adalats can handle disputes at both pre-litigation and court-pending stages.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Both Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
Ans: (c)
Lok Adalat operates as a voluntary and conciliatory agency, and it can indeed handle disputes at both pre-litigation and court-pending stages.

Q2: Assertion (A): The awards given by Lok Adalats are final and binding on all parties involved.
Reasoning (R): Lok Adalats have powers equivalent to a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (a)
Lok Adalats have the authority of a Civil Court, which makes their awards final and binding (A), and this authority stems from their powers granted under the Code of Civil Procedure (R).

Q3: Arrange the following in the chronological order of their establishment:
1. Permanent Lok Adalats
2. Gram Nyayalayas
3. Commercial Courts
4. Family Courts
(a) 4, 1, 2, 3
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 3, 2, 1, 4
(d) 2, 3, 4, 1
Ans: (a)
Family Courts were established first (1984), followed by Permanent Lok Adalats (2002), then Gram Nyayalayas (2008), and finally, Commercial Courts (2015).

Q4: Statement 1: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was created under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987.
Statement 2: NALSA oversees and evaluates the implementation of legal aid programs and sets policies for making legal services available.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Both Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
Ans: (c)
NALSA was indeed created under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, and its responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of legal aid programs and setting policies for making legal services available.

Q5: Statement 1: The awards of Lok Adalats can be appealed in higher courts.
Statement 2: Gram Nyayalayas function as mobile courts.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true
Ans: (d)
Awards from Lok Adalats are final and cannot be appealed (Statement 1 is false), while Gram Nyayalayas do function as mobile courts (Statement 2 is true).

Q6: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was established under the _______ Act, and became active on _______.
(a) Family Courts Act, 1984
(b) Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, November 9, 1995
(c) Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008
(d) Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Ans: (b)
NALSA was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987 and became operational on November 9, 1995.

Q7: Assertion (A): Gram Nyayalayas have the authority to handle both criminal and civil cases.
Reasoning (R): They are established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (a)
Gram Nyayalayas, established under the Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008, have the jurisdiction to handle both criminal and civil cases (A), and this is due to the authority granted to them by the said Act (R).

Q8: Statement 1: Permanent Lok Adalats are primarily focused on resolving disputes related to public utility services.
Statement 2: The awards made by Permanent Lok Adalats can be challenged and appealed in higher courts.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true
Ans: (c)
Permanent Lok Adalats focus on public utility service disputes (Statement 1 is true). However, their awards are final and binding, with no provision for appeal (Statement 2 is false).

Q9: The State Legal Services Authorities, under NALSA, perform functions such as ______, organizing Lok Adalats, and conducting legal awareness camps.
(a) Providing free and competent legal services
(b) Handling commercial disputes
(c) Resolving family-related disputes
(d) Conducting judicial proceedings
Ans: (a)
One of the primary functions of the State Legal Services Authorities under NALSA is to provide free and competent legal services to eligible individuals.

Q10: Statement 1: National Lok Adalats follow a specific theme every month since 2015.
Statement 2: Mega Lok Adalats are organized continuously across the country on a specific day.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Both Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
Ans: (c)
National Lok Adalats do follow a specific theme every month since 2015, and Mega Lok Adalats are indeed organized on a single day across the country to efficiently address a significant number of cases.

Q11: Statement 1: The National Lok Adalats are organized regularly across the country on specific days with a thematic approach each month.
Statement 2: The decisions of the National Lok Adalats can be appealed in the Supreme Court of India.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true
Ans: (c)
National Lok Adalats are organized regularly with a specific theme each month (Statement 1 is true). However, their decisions are final and binding with no provision for appeal, including in the Supreme Court (Statement 2 is false).

Q12: Which article of the Indian Constitution emphasizes the state's role in ensuring that the legal system promotes justice on an equal basis?
(a) Article 14
(b) Article 22(1)
(c) Article 39A
(d) Article 21
Ans: (c)
Article 39A of the Indian Constitution focuses on ensuring that the state provides free legal aid and ensures justice is accessible to all citizens, regardless of economic or other challenges.

Q13: Assertion (A): Family Courts are established to expedite the resolution of family-related disputes.
Reasoning (R): They follow the regular civil procedure code for dispute resolution.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (c)
Family Courts are indeed established to expedite the resolution of family disputes (A is true). However, they do not follow the regular civil procedure code but have their own simplified and more conciliatory procedures (R is false).

Q14: The Legal Services Authorities Act, which provides for the establishment of NALSA, became operational on _______.
(a) November 9, 1985
(b) November 9, 1990
(c) November 9, 1995
(d) November 9, 2000
Ans: (c)
The Legal Services Authorities Act, which established NALSA, became operational on November 9, 1995.

Q15: Statement 1: Permanent Lok Adalats handle cases related to public utility services.
Statement 2: Permanent Lok Adalats can deal with criminal offenses under any law.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Both Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
Ans: (a)
Permanent Lok Adalats do handle cases related to public utility services, but they do not deal with matters related to offenses that cannot be settled under any law.

Q16: Permanent Lok Adalats have jurisdiction over disputes involving:
(a) Family matters
(b) Criminal offenses
(c) Public utility services
(d) Commercial disputes
Ans: (c)
Permanent Lok Adalats are specifically established to resolve disputes related to public utility services.

Q17: Statement 1: The State Legal Services Authorities are responsible for organizing Lok Adalats at the state level.
Statement 2: Decisions of the State Lok Adalats can be appealed in the respective High Courts.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true
Ans: (c)
State Legal Services Authorities do organize Lok Adalats at the state level (Statement 1 is true). However, the decisions of Lok Adalats are final and binding with no provision for appeal (Statement 2 is false).

Q18: Statement 1: Gram Nyayalayas are presided over by Nyayadhikaris, who are judicial officers with powers equivalent to First Class Magistrates.
Statement 2: Gram Nyayalayas strictly adhere to the rules of the Indian Evidence Act in their proceedings.
(a) Both statements are true
(b) Both statements are false
(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true
Ans: (c)
Gram Nyayalayas are indeed presided over by Nyayadhikaris with powers similar to First Class Magistrates (Statement 1 is true). However, they are not strictly bound by the rules of the Indian Evidence Act, as they are guided by the principles of natural justice and the rules set by the High Court (Statement 2 is false).

Q19: The awards given by Lok Adalats are treated as decrees of a Civil Court and are _______ and _______ on all parties involved.
(a) final, binding
(b) preliminary, negotiable
(c) temporary, revisable
(d) advisory, non-binding
Ans: (a)
Awards from Lok Adalats are considered as decrees of a Civil Court and are final and binding on all parties involved, meaning they cannot be appealed or negotiated further.

Q20: Which of the following is not a function of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)?
(a) Providing free legal services to the weaker sections of society
(b) Organizing Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes
(c) Presiding over commercial disputes of specified value
(d) Conducting legal awareness camps
Ans: (c)
NALSA's functions include providing free legal services, organizing Lok Adalats, and conducting legal awareness camps, but it does not preside over commercial disputes, which is the domain of Commercial Courts.