Courts don’t accept digital token copies on your phone — only physical printouts. No printing facility exists at most court complexes either. This used to be the single biggest reason Lok Adalat attempts failed.
That’s no longer the only major risk. As of June 2026, the entire safety net that Lok Adalat represented for traffic challans has changed at the rulebook level. A substituted Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 now requires you to act within a fixed 45-day window — and if you want to contest a challan in court after that, you must first deposit 50% of the challan amount. Lok Adalat still exists and still offers discounts, but it is no longer the default fallback it used to be.
National Lok Adalat — a nationwide single-day legal event organized by NALSA (National Legal Services Authority), where pending cases — most commonly traffic challans, but also cheque bounce, bank recovery, and other compoundable matters — are settled through mutual agreement rather than prolonged court proceedings. Lok Adalats hold statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Official Reference: nalsa.gov.in/lok-adalats/
Schedule rule: National Lok Adalats are held on the 2nd Saturday of March, May, September, and December every year. 2026 dates: March 14 ✅ (held) | May 9 ✅ (held) | September 12 (upcoming) | December 12 (upcoming). ⚠️ NEW (June 2026): Under the amended Rule 167, you must respond to any challan within 45 days — pay it, or contest it on NextGen mParivahan with supporting documents. Doing nothing for 45 days means the challan is treated as accepted. If your contest is rejected and you want to go to court, you must first deposit 50% of the challan amount with the state government portal — no exceptions, and Lok Adalat does not bypass this requirement. Token registration: Via NALSA website or your State/District Traffic Police portal (varies by state). Critical: Carry physical printouts only — token, challan, RC, DL, PUC, insurance. Digital copies on your phone are not accepted.
⚠️ NEW: The Rule 167 Change That Affects Every Challan Holder (June 2026)
This is the most important update for anyone planning to rely on Lok Adalat to settle a pending traffic challan, and it didn’t come from NALSA — it came from a change to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 itself.
What changed
Under the substituted Rule 167, the procedure for challenging a challan now runs on a strict timeline, and the route to court is no longer free:
Step 1 — The 45-day window. Once a challan is issued, you have 45 days to do one of two things: pay the fine, or formally dispute the challan on the NextGen mParivahan portal with supporting documents proving it was wrongly issued. If you do neither within 45 days, the challan is treated as accepted by default — you lose your chance to contest it.
Step 2 — Traffic police must respond within 30 days. If you do dispute the challan through the portal, the traffic authority is required to resolve your objection within 30 days.
Step 3 — The 50% pre-deposit, if you want to go to court. If the traffic police rejects your objection and you still want to challenge the challan further, you can no longer walk straight into a court (or a Lok Adalat bench expecting it to function as your first stop) for relief. You must first deposit 50% of the challan amount on the state government’s designated portal. Only after this deposit can you file before a court.
Why this matters for Lok Adalat specifically
Lok Adalat has traditionally functioned as an easy, informal venue where people show up — often without having paid anything in advance — hoping for a negotiated discount or waiver on a pending challan. The new Rule 167 procedure changes the sequence leading up to that point:
- You can no longer simply ignore a challan for months and then show up at the next Lok Adalat date hoping to settle it cheaply. The 45-day clock starts ticking from issuance, and inaction is now read as acceptance, not neutrality.
- If your challan has already gone past the dispute stage and been rejected by the traffic authority, the 50% deposit requirement applies before any court-level relief — and a Lok Adalat bench operates as part of the broader court/legal system for this purpose. The discount negotiation that used to happen before any payment now structurally happens after you’ve already committed half the amount.
- Challans that are still within the 45-day window, or that you haven’t yet contested, are the ones still most cleanly eligible for a straightforward Lok Adalat settlement under the older, more flexible approach. Once a challan has moved into the rejected-objection stage, the 50% rule applies regardless of which forum you eventually use.
What this means practically
| Your Challan’s Stage | What You Should Do |
|---|---|
| Issued, within 45 days, no action taken yet | Decide quickly: pay it, or contest it on NextGen mParivahan with evidence. Don’t let the 45 days lapse by default. |
| Contested, traffic police still reviewing (within 30-day window) | Wait for their resolution. You can still register for the next Lok Adalat date as a parallel option if eligible. |
| Contest rejected by traffic police | You now need to deposit 50% of the challan amount on the state portal before any further court-level challenge — including via Lok Adalat — is possible. |
| Already overdue past 45 days, never contested | Treated as accepted. Your realistic options are paying the full amount or attending Lok Adalat for whatever discount is on offer that cycle, since the contest window itself has likely closed. |
Bottom line: Don’t sit on a fresh challan waiting for the next Lok Adalat date. The 45-day rule punishes delay in a way the old system didn’t. If you’re going to dispute a challan, do it on NextGen mParivahan immediately — within the 45-day window — rather than treating Lok Adalat as your first move.
(This update reflects the amended Rule 167 procedure as reported in national coverage, June 2026. Exact state-level implementation timelines for NextGen mParivahan-based disputing may vary — confirm with your State Transport/Traffic Police department for your specific challan.)
⭐ Correct 2026 Schedule — “2nd Saturday” Rule
Per official NALSA confirmation (letter No. L/34/2018-NALSA, dated December 4, 2025), National Lok Adalats for 2026 fall on the 2nd Saturday of March, May, September, and December:
| Lok Adalat | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| 1st | March 14, 2026 ✅ |
| 2nd | May 9, 2026 ✅ |
| 3rd | September 12, 2026 |
| 4th | December 12, 2026 |
Some sources circulate slightly incorrect dates (e.g., “13th September” instead of the 12th) — always cross-check against the “2nd Saturday” rule or your State Legal Services Authority’s official notification closer to the date, as exact confirmation is issued shortly before each event.
National Lok Adalat vs Permanent Lok Adalat — Don’t Confuse Them
| National Lok Adalat | Permanent Lok Adalat | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 4 times/year, specific dates | Ongoing, year-round |
| Scope | All subject matters (broad) | Specifically public utility services (transport, postal, telegraph, etc.) |
| Jurisdiction limit | No fixed monetary limit | Up to ₹10 lakh |
| If no settlement reached | Case returns to regular court | Permanent Lok Adalat can still decide the matter itself (except for offences) |
| Affected by new Rule 167 deposit requirement? | Yes — if your challan has reached the rejected-objection stage | Yes — same rule applies across forums for challan-related matters |
Eligible vs Non-Eligible Cases (Traffic Challans)
Generally Eligible:
- Overspeeding
- Signal/red light jumping
- No helmet/seatbelt
- Wrong parking
- Driving without valid insurance
NOT Eligible:
- Drunk driving
- Hit-and-run cases
- Accident cases involving injury or death
- FIR-linked cases
- Non-compoundable offences
- Divorce matters
Discount/waiver percentages on settled challans vary significantly by state — ranging from 50% to as high as 100% in some cases. Confirm the current rate with your State Legal Services Authority closer to the event date. Note that under the new Rule 167 procedure, any challan that has already passed through a rejected dispute and into the 50% pre-deposit stage carries that deposit obligation into the Lok Adalat process as well — the discount now applies on top of, not instead of, that deposit.
Token Registration — General Process
Important: the exact process varies significantly by state. Some states (like Delhi) have a centralized online portal; others (like Haryana) rely on the national NALSA calendar without a dedicated state-level booking system.
Step 1: Visit nalsa.gov.in/lok-adalats/, or your State Traffic Police website, or State/District Legal Services Authority portal
Step 2: Look for “National Lok Adalat Token Registration” or “Challan Settlement/Waiver”
Step 3: Enter your vehicle registration number (some states also require the last 5 digits of chassis/engine number)
Step 4: Review pending challans linked to your vehicle — check the issuance date against the 45-day window before assuming Lok Adalat is your best option
Step 5: Select the specific challans you want to settle
Step 6: Download/print your token and appointment confirmation
Step 7: You’ll typically also receive confirmation via SMS/email
⭐ What to Carry — Physical Printouts Only
This remains the most commonly overlooked requirement: courts require physical printouts, not digital copies shown on your phone.
| Document | Format Required |
|---|---|
| Token/Appointment letter | Printed |
| Challan copy | Printed |
| Original RC | Physical |
| Original Driving Licence | Physical |
| Valid PUC certificate | Physical/printed |
| Insurance policy | Physical/printed |
| Government ID proof | Original |
| NEW: Proof of 50% deposit (if applicable) | Printed receipt — required if your challan already went through a rejected dispute |
Most court complexes have no printing facilities on-site — prepare and print everything in advance.
What Happens at Lok Adalat
Step 1: Arrive at your designated district court complex with all physical documents
Step 2: Cases are heard in token number sequence
Step 3: A panel (judge, lawyer, social worker) facilitates compromise between you and the relevant authority (e.g., traffic police)
Step 4: If agreement is reached, an award is passed — final and binding, no appeal possible
Step 5: Pay the settled amount and collect your official receipt confirming closure
Step 6: If no agreement is reached, your case returns to the regular court process — where the 50% pre-deposit rule applies if you intend to pursue it further
Common Problems + Fix
“Carried token on my phone, was turned away”: Physical printouts are mandatory — digital copies aren’t accepted, and most courts can’t print for you on-site. Always print everything beforehand.
“My state doesn’t have an online token portal”: Not all states do — check with your local District Legal Services Authority or Traffic Police office directly for the offline registration process in your area.
“Saw ’13th September 2026′ mentioned elsewhere — which date is correct?”: The officially confirmed rule is the 2nd Saturday of the month — for September 2026, that’s the 12th, not the 13th. Always verify against your State Legal Services Authority’s specific notification closer to the date.
“Missed this Lok Adalat — what now?”: Wait for the next scheduled date (2nd Saturday of the following quarter month) — pending challans don’t expire on their own, but under the new Rule 167, your 45-day window to dispute does expire, so don’t delay your decision just because you’re waiting for the next Lok Adalat slot.
“Challan involves an accident with injury”: This doesn’t qualify for standard Lok Adalat settlement — such cases require regular court proceedings.
“My challan dispute was rejected — can I still go to Lok Adalat without paying the 50%?”: No. Under the amended Rule 167, the 50% pre-deposit is required before any court-level relief once your objection has been rejected by the traffic authority — Lok Adalat does not provide a way around this requirement.
“I didn’t realise the 45-day clock had started — it’s already past”: If you’ve crossed 45 days without paying or contesting, the challan is treated as accepted. Your best remaining option is typically to pay it, or wait for a Lok Adalat date and see what discount is being offered that cycle — but you may no longer have a clean path to dispute it on merits.
FAQ
When is the next National Lok Adalat in 2026? September 12, 2026, followed by December 12, 2026 — both falling on the 2nd Saturday of their respective months.
What is the new 45-day rule for traffic challans? Under the amended Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, once a challan is issued, you have 45 days to either pay it or formally contest it on the NextGen mParivahan portal with supporting documents. If you take no action within 45 days, the challan is treated as accepted by default.
Do I have to pay 50% before going to Lok Adalat now? Only if your challan has already been disputed and that dispute was rejected by the traffic authority. In that specific situation, you must deposit 50% of the challan amount on the state government portal before pursuing any further court-level relief, and this requirement carries through to Lok Adalat as well. If your challan hasn’t yet been disputed or rejected, this requirement doesn’t apply yet.
How do I register for a Lok Adalat token? Through nalsa.gov.in, your State Traffic Police website, or your State/District Legal Services Authority portal — the exact process varies by state.
Can I show my token on my phone instead of printing it? No — physical printouts are required for the token, challan, and all supporting documents. Digital copies aren’t accepted at court.
What discount can I expect on my challan? This varies by state, ranging from 50% to potentially 100% in some cases — confirm the current rate closer to the event date. Note this discount applies to the challan amount itself; it does not refund or reduce any 50% deposit you may have already made under the new Rule 167 process.
Is the Lok Adalat decision final? Yes — the award is final and binding, with no appeal possible, once settlement is reached.
What’s the difference between National and Permanent Lok Adalat? National Lok Adalat happens 4 times yearly for all subject matters. Permanent Lok Adalat operates year-round specifically for public utility service disputes, with jurisdiction up to ₹10 lakh.
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| NALSA (Main) | nalsa.gov.in/lok-adalats/ |
| National Lok Adalat Info | nalsa.gov.in/lok-adalat/national-lok-adalat |
| NextGen mParivahan (Challan Dispute) | mparivahan.gov.in (or your state’s designated portal) |
The single most expensive mistake at any Lok Adalat used to be showing up with everything saved on a phone, only to be turned away at a court complex with no printer in sight. That mistake still costs people their slot.
But in 2026, an even costlier mistake has emerged: doing nothing for 45 days. The old approach — receive a challan, set it aside, deal with it whenever the next Lok Adalat rolls around — no longer works cleanly. The clock starts the day the challan is issued, not the day you decide to act on it.
If you have a pending traffic challan right now: check the issue date first. If you’re within 45 days, decide today whether you’re paying it or disputing it on NextGen mParivahan — don’t let the window close by default. If you’re planning to attend the September 12 or December 12, 2026 Lok Adalat, register for your token through the appropriate channel for your state, print every required document well in advance, and confirm whether your specific challan has already moved into the 50% pre-deposit stage before you assume a straightforward discount negotiation is still on the table.
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