Mumbai, September 2026: The Legal Aid & Support Centre (LASC) of SVKM’s NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law participated in the National Lok Adalat 2026 held on 12 September 2026, providing 21 student volunteers with practical exposure to alternative dispute resolution and the functioning of legal aid mechanisms.
Organised by the Mumbai District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), the National Lok Adalat was conducted across multiple venues in Mumbai. LASC students were deployed in two teams at the City Civil and Sessions Court, Fort and Mazagaon Court, allowing them to observe proceedings across two different court settings.
At the City Civil and Sessions Court, the students coordinated with Ms. Manisha Chavan, DLSA representative, who briefed them on the matters listed for the day and the procedures followed at the Lok Adalat benches.
At Mazagaon Court, the student team coordinated with Ms. Aakhansha Padlekar, DLSA representative, and observed matters including disputes referred by financial institutions and other pre-litigation matters. Students followed the process from registration and case calling through the recording of terms of settlement.
The volunteering experience enabled students to observe Lok Adalat proceedings alongside regular court hearings. This provided them with a comparative understanding of the adversarial nature of regular litigation and the conciliatory approach adopted in Lok Adalat proceedings. Students also observed how presiding officers and panel members facilitated dialogue between disputing parties and worked towards mutually acceptable settlements.
The initiative further provided insights into the administrative and procedural aspects of dispute resolution, including case management, coordination between parties and counsel, and the recording and disposal of matters following settlement.
Through the experience, LASC student volunteers gained practical understanding of how Lok Adalats function as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the role played by District Legal Services Authorities in facilitating access to justice and time-bound settlement of disputes.
The Legal Aid & Support Centre acknowledged the support extended by the Mumbai District Legal Services Authority, particularly Ms. Manisha Chavan and Ms. Aakhansha Padlekar, in facilitating the student volunteering experience and guiding the volunteers through the day’s proceedings.
