1. The short question involved in this writ petition is whether Permanent Lok Adalat established under S.22B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (for brevity the "Act of 1987") has plenary jurisdiction to grant a decree for declaration relating to adoption or its jurisdiction is confined purely to the "public utility service", as defined under sub-section (b) of S.22A of the Act of 1987 ?

2. Factual Background:

The aforesaid question cropped up for consideration in the following factual background: -

2.1 Mr. Shyam Lal Banjara, who was husband of the petitioner herein died in harness on 05.07.2004 while working in the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (for short the "SECL"), which led to appointment of the petitioner herein as his dependent on the post of General Mazdoor Category - I on 24.05.2005. Thereafter, in the year 2008, the petitioner filed civil suit for declaring one Gautam Prasad Patel as her adopted son, which suit, later on, transferred to Permanent Lok Adalat, whereby vide order dated 07.02.2010, the said Lok Adalat at Raigarh while passing a decree in favour of the petitioner declared Gautam Prasad Patel as her adopted son and, ultimately, on the basis of said