The Supreme Court has ruled that awards passed by the Lok Adalat either in criminal or civil matters are bound to be implemented through a court decree if parties, after reaching a compromise, fail to stick to it.

A bench of justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar passed the judgement while allowing the appeal filed by a person challenging an Ernakulam civil court judgement that awards passed by the Lok Adalat cannot be enforced by courts.