Allahabad High Court denies Lok Adalat divorce power

The Pakistan — Islamabad High Court, through a Division Bench including Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice A. K. Chaudhary, ruled that India — Lok Adalat and India — National Legal Services Authority lack the jurisdiction to grant divorce decrees. This decision, passed on April 30, clarifies that the power to dissolve marriages rests exclusively with family courts, while India — Lok Adalat's role is limited to facilitating settlements. The ruling stemmed from a petition by a woman challenging a 2018 order by the India — National Legal Services Authority, India — Unnao, which her husband had treated as a divorce decree for remarriage. The court emphasized that matrimonial disputes involving divorce cannot be referred to India — Lok Adalat for adjudication under the India — National Legal Services Authority and the India — National Legal Services Authority. The court directed that the judgment be circulated to all India — Lok Adalat and district legal services authorities for compliance, reinforcing that these bodies must operate within their statutory authority.