Full Judgment
2. Petitioners have challenged the part of the order dated 21.10.2005 (Annexure-5) passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat, Ranchi in P.L.A. Case No. 175 of 2005 and for further directing the respondents to pay the admitted dues to the petitioners in pursuance of the aforesaid order dated.
3. From perusal of the aforesaid order and after hearing the learned counsel for the respondents, it appears that the Permanent Lok Adalat, Ranchi has decided the said case on merits allowing payment of Rs. 53,394.10 towards transportation charges as well as releasing Rs. 50,000/- being the value of the security deposit in the form of National Saving Certificate, to the original petitioner. However, Permanent Lok Adalat has refused to allow claim application in respect of other claims by passing order on merits. Counsel for the respondents by referring to the averments made in the counter affidavit, submits that the petitioners are not entitled to other reliefs Learned counsel further submits that an FIR was also lodged against the original petitioner for committing certain offences i.e. for not supplying 35 drums of Soyabin Oil (Annexure-F).
4. From the bare perusal of the provisions of Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, it is apparent that the Award of the Permanent Lok Adalat is final either rendered on merits or in terms of a settlement agreement entered into between the parties and is binding upon the parties. Section-22(E) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 is quoted herein-below. 22-E. Award of Permanent Lok Adalat to be final.- (1) Every award of the Permanent Lok Adalat under this Act made either on merit or in terms of a settlement agreement shall be final and binding on all the parties thereto and on persons claiming under them. (2) Every award of the Permanent Lok Adalat under this Act shall be deemed to be a decree of a Civil Court. (3) The award made by the Permanent Lok Adalat under this Act shall be by a majority of the persons constituting the Permanent Lok Adalat. (4) Every award made by the Permanent Lok Adalat under this Act shall be final and shall not be called in question in any original suit, application or execution proceeding. (5) The Permanent Lok Adalat may transmit any award made by it to a Civil Court having local jurisdiction and such Civil Court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by the Court.] 5. It appears that certain portion of the Award are in favour of the petitioner. As per the aforesaid provisions, a decree holder is entitled to enforce the same as provided under section 22(E) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. However, it is not open to the petitioner to challenge the Award which has become final upon adjudication of the dispute on merits.
6. In view of the aforesaid legal position, this writ petition is misconceived and no relief can be granted to the petitioners. Accordingly, it is dismissed (Aparesh Kumar Singh, J) Ranjeet/