Lok Adalat Has No Jurisdiction Over Non-Compoundable Offences: HP High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court clarified that Lok Adalats cannot dispose of criminal cases involving non-compoundable offences. The Court emphasised that ADR mechanisms like Lok Adalats are designed for amicable settlement and cannot override statutory provisions under the IPC and CrPC. Non-compoundable offences involve public interest considerations and require formal judicial processes, making compromise impermissible. The bench stressed that allowing Lok Adalats to settle such matters would amount to bypassing essential procedural safeguards and undermine criminal justice. The ruling reinforces the limited jurisdiction of ADR forums and underscores the importance of maintaining the sanctity of criminal prosecution in serious offences.