High Court Rules Trial Court Lacks Jurisdiction to Challenge Lok Adalat Awards, Must Use Article 226 Writ Petition.

The High Court allowed the civil revision, setting aside the trial court's order and rejecting the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC. It held that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain challenges to a Lok Adalat award, which should be addressed through a writ petition under Article 226. The High Court emphasized that jurisdictional issues are fundamental, and the trial court erred by not considering this before dismissing the application. Consequently, the High Court's decision underscored the proper legal procedure for contesting Lok Adalat awards, affirming that such challenges fall outside the purview of civil courts.

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Issues: Jurisdiction of the trial court in entertaining challenge to a Lok Adalat award and rejection of plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC.

Jurisdiction of the trial court in entertaining challenge to a Lok Adalat award:
The petitioner filed a revision under Article 227 challenging the dismissal of the application seeking rejection of the plaint by the Civil Judge (Junior Division). The respondent sought a declaration that she was the owner of the land and that the compromise and award were null and void. The petitioner argued that the civil court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the validity of a Lok Adalat award based on limited grounds. The High Court cited precedents emphasizing that challenges to Lok Adalat awards should be through a writ petition under Article 226, not in civil courts. The High Court held that lack of jurisdiction goes to the root of the matter, and the trial court should have considered this before dismissing the application. Consequently, the High Court allowed the revision, setting aside the trial court's order and rejecting the plaint.

Rejection of plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC:
The petitioner, as the first defendant in the suit, filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC seeking rejection of the plaint. The trial court dismissed this application, leading to the petitioner filing a revision petition. The High Court found that the trial court's order was erroneous as it did not consider the jurisdictional aspect of challenging a Lok Adalat award. The High Court emphasized that the trial court should have been mindful of the legal position that challenges to Lok Adalat awards can only be made before the High Court through a writ petition under Article 226. Consequently, the High Court allowed the civil revision, setting aside the trial court's order and rejecting the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC.

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