The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is set to organize the year’s final National Lok Adalat on Saturday, December 13, 2025, across the country. This nationwide judicial drive presents a significant opportunity for litigants and vehicle owners to resolve pending traffic challans, compoundable criminal cases, and civil disputes amicably, often with substantial waivers on penalties.
However, in a significant administrative update, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) has announced that the National Lok Adalat for Delhi has been postponed to January 10, 2026.
Scope of the Lok Adalat: Traffic Challans & Compoundable Offences
The upcoming Lok Adalat is expected to clear a massive backlog of “petty offences.” Judicial officers across various states will take up matters where the law permits compounding (settlement by paying a fine or mutual agreement).
Eligible Traffic Violations
Vehicle owners burdened with multiple pending e-challans can expect relief for minor traffic offences. Courts in many states are known to offer reduced fines—ranging from 50% to 100% waivers on the total penalty amount, depending on the age and nature of the challan.
Offences eligible for settlement include:
- Driving without a helmet or seat belt.
- Signal jumping (Red Light Violation).
- Wrong parking or obstruction.
- Over-speeding (within normal compoundable limits).
- Driving without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
- Old and pending e-challans that have not yet been sent to regular court summons.
Ineligible Offences
The authorities have clarified that serious non-compoundable offences will not be entertained in the Lok Adalat. These include:
- Drunk driving (Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs).
- Hit-and-run cases.
- Dangerous or rash driving causing injury or death.
- Offences involving non-compoundable sections of the Motor Vehicles Act or IPC.
Procedure for Litigants: How to Settle Challans
To ensure a smooth disposal of cases on December 13, vehicle owners are advised to follow this step-by-step procedure:
- Check Pending Challans: Visit the Parivahan portal or the official website of the respective State Traffic Police to verify all pending e-challans against your vehicle.
- Download Challan Copies: Take printouts or screenshots of the pending challans.
- Registration/Token Generation: In several districts, pre-registration is mandatory. Litigants should check their district court or legal services authority website to generate a “token” for the hearing.
- Appearance in Court: On December 13, the vehicle owner must appear physically at the designated court or traffic Lok Adalat venue.
- Required Documents: Original Registration Certificate (RC), Driving Licence (DL), ID Proof (Aadhaar/PAN), and copies of the challans.
- Settlement: The presiding Magistrate will review the violations and may offer a reduced fine amount.
- Payment & Closure: Once the final amount is paid via Cash or UPI (depending on court facilities), an official Lok Adalat Settlement Order is issued. This order permanently closes the case.
Legal Validity: No Appeal Lies Against the Award
It is pertinent to note that under Section 21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, an award passed by the Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a Civil Court.
- Final and Binding: The decision is final and binding on all parties.
- No Appeal: No appeal lies against the award before any court of law. Once a challan is settled here, the matter cannot be reopened, providing litigants with complete legal finality.
Important Update for Delhi Jurisdiction
While the Lok Adalat will proceed nationwide on December 13, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) has issued a postponement notice.
“The National Lok Adalat scheduled for 13.12.2025 has been rescheduled to 10.01.2026 (Second Saturday) for the Courts subordinate to the High Court of Delhi.”
Litigants in Delhi are advised not to visit the courts on December 13 for this purpose and should instead prepare for the session on January 10, 2026.
This event marks the last National Lok Adalat of 2025. Legal experts and traffic officials have urged citizens with heavy penalties or multiple pending challans to utilize this mechanism to clear their dues legally at a minimum cost, thereby avoiding potential impoundment of vehicles or stricter legal action in the future.
