The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) has launched a fully online platform for filing cases and conducting hearings before Permanent Lok Adalats, enhancing access to justice through technology.
NEW DELHI: In a landmark initiative to strengthen access to justice and bring legal services closer to the people, the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) has introduced a fully online platform for filing cases and conducting hearings before Permanent Lok Adalats (PLAs). The digital facility was inaugurated in Kochi by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Nitin Jamdar, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to harnessing technology to bridge the justice gap, especially for individuals from marginalized and remote communities.
Permanent Lok Adalats are a crucial element of India’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system, designed to provide speedy, cost-effective, and amicable settlements in cases related to public utility services and other civil matters. Currently, these Adalats are functioning in three major cities of Kerala—Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode.
With the launch of this online service, individuals across the state will be able to file cases and participate in hearings without the need for physical presence. This innovation not only reduces travel and legal expenses but also saves time, making justice more accessible and efficient. The facility can be availed through e-Sewa Kendras and the legal services offices operating at the district and taluk levels.
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Complementary Legal and Social Welfare Initiatives
Alongside the virtual platform, KELSA also unveiled a series of integrated schemes aimed at addressing various legal and social concerns:
- Athigeevanam: A targeted intervention scheme developed to provide legal aid and rehabilitative support to victims affected by natural disasters. This initiative focuses on offering assistance in documentation, compensation claims, and rebuilding legal identity.
- Samayam: A proactive legal aid mechanism that facilitates the peaceful and amicable resolution of civil, quasi-civil, and compoundable criminal disputes that arise at the police station level. This initiative is expected to reduce the burden on the formal court system by encouraging resolution through pre-litigation conciliation.
- Samanvaya: A specialized counselling and mediation service dedicated to handling matrimonial and domestic disputes. The goal is to resolve conflicts through dialogue and understanding, minimizing emotional distress and promoting family harmony.
Awareness Through Visual Media
In an effort to generate greater awareness on domestic violence and promote legal literacy, KELSA, in collaboration with Government Law College, Ernakulam, also premiered a short film titled Arike during the event. The film sensitively portrays the struggles faced by victims of domestic abuse and educates viewers about available legal remedies and support systems.
A Transformative Step Toward Legal Empowerment
These comprehensive measures reflect KELSA’s proactive approach in integrating technology with human-centered legal outreach. By decentralizing and digitizing legal services, the authority aims to build a more inclusive and responsive justice delivery system that empowers citizens to seek remedies without bureaucratic or financial hurdles.
The online PLA system, along with initiatives like Athigeevanam, Samayam, Samanvaya, and Arike, represent a progressive shift towards a more accessible, empathetic, and technologically empowered legal framework in Kerala.
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