Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987–Secs. 19–Jurisdiction of Lok Adalats and Permanent Lok Adalats–Distinction between–While the jurisdiction of the Permanent Lok Adalat is limited to disputes regarding public utility services, crucially its powers are wider than the Lok Adalat in many respects-
(1) Parties can approach Permanent Lok Adalats directly u/s. 22-C(1) while Lok Adalats are sent their cases by Courts where the dispute is pending,
(2) Permanent Lok Adalats can direct the parties to submit written submissions, replies, evidence, and documents,
(3) Other than attempting conciliation with parties, the Permanent Lok Adalat can also decide a dispute on its merits, if the settlement fails, and
(4) Permanent Lok Adalats can transmit an award made to a Civil Court having jurisdiction and such Civil Court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by the Court.
