Kerala has stepped into uncharted legal territory, becoming the first state in the country to take its Permanent Lok Adalats online — both for filing and hearings. No long queues, no travel, no barriers. Justice is now just a click away.
The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) is behind this game-changing move, marking April 11 as the day the old ways quietly stepped aside. At a ceremony led by the Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin M Jamdar, the digital filing system was officially launched, setting the wheels of virtual justice in motion.
With three Permanent Lok Adalats currently operating in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode, this shift means residents from Kasaragod to Kanyakumari (figuratively speaking) no longer have to leave their homes to seek resolution.
Previously, even the most minor disputes demanded a physical presence at a Lok Adalat centre — a hurdle too high for many, especially in Kerala’s rural and tribal pockets. But beginning the first week of May, anyone across the state can file cases online, attend hearings remotely, and resolve disputes without setting foot in a courtroom.
For those without reliable digital access, the State hasn’t left them behind. e-Sewa Kendras and local legal services offices at the district and taluk levels will act as digital bridges, ensuring nobody’s left on the wrong side of the screen.
It’s not just a technological upgrade — it’s Kerala reimagining justice for the 21st century.
