lokadalat is more like out of court settlement done officially.
And it won't be a surprise if it ignores the merits of the case.
And manages both parties to concede and agree (reluctantly) to come to terms in the pretext of 'workable formula' to settle the dispute.
It'spurpose was to reduce the burden on judiciary. b'cos lakhs of trivial cases such as a cheque bounce of rs 1000/-.
people spent years litigating and spent even more on the litigations and lakhs of such cases are still pending.
Never heard that lok adalat, in case of matrimonial disputes, that it is empowered to dismiss the divorce suit in favour of respondent. They are not empowered to do that I believe.
In other civil suits like cheqe bounce, bank vs loan defaulter is understandable and some defeereed fornula is worked out.
If a person is defending divorce to save marriage how can he be expected to agree on divorce amicably? IF both parties are asking for divorce
This is more relevant (and was intended primarily) for cases, in ref to matrimonial dispute, where both parties make allegations and there is claim and more importantly there is counter claim of divorce.
what's the meaning in the plea that 'don't give divorce to my spouse but give it to me' (technically it matters a lot. but parties get so exausted in the fist case itself. generally no further cases errupt but no guaranty )
Both parties need to agree to go to lok adalat (both parties need to get exausted then only 'mandawali' is possible practically).
It is not challengable/appeallable.
Even if your plea/defence is strong or weak, it's your call.