Justice Beyond the Courts: Local Dispute Redressal Mechanism in India

Access to justice is essential for any society. The Constitution of India guarantees social, political, and economic justice for its citizens. Recently, formal institutions have faced two significant challenges: long delays in case resolution and growing backlogs. Since independence, various committees and commissions have emphasised the importance of local dispute resolution systems by examining their structure and functions. This study reviews secondary data on the historical evolution, status, and potential of these systems in modern justice administration. It concludes that these systems are highly effective in delivering quick, affordable justice and promoting local participation, which helps communities better understand laws.