ORDER :

B.N. Kirpal, CJI.

We have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner. The challenge is to the validity of the Legal Services Authority (Amendment) Act, 2002 (in short the 'Act') whereby a new Chapter 6(A) has been inserted relating to pre-litigation conciliation and settlement. It is quite apparent that this chapter has been enacted as being complementary to Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (in short the 'Code') which is a new provision enacted and implemented with effect from 1st July, 2002.

2. We have gone through the provisions of the said Chapter which contemplate the setting up of permanent Lok Adalats for deciding disputes in which public utility services is one of the matters involved. It is quite obvious that the effort of the legislature is to decrease the work load in the Courts by resorting to alternative disputes resolution. Lok Adalat is a mode of dispute resolution which has been in vogue since over two decades. Hundreds of thousands of cases have been settled through this mechanism and is undisputedly a fast means of dispensation of justice. The litigation is brought to a quick end with no further appeals or anguish to the litigants. The constit