(1) Lok Adalat shall get jurisdiction to deal with a case only when a court of competent jurisdiction orders the case to be referred in the manner prescribed in section 20 of the Act or under section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
(2) A mechanical reference of pending cases to Lok Adalat shall be avoided and the referring court shall, prima facie satisfy itself that there are chances of settlement of the case through Lok Adalat and the case is appropriate to be referred to Lok Adalat:
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Provided that matters relating to divorce and criminal cases which are not compoundable under the Code of ChminaJ Procedure, 1973 <2 of 1974) shall not be referred to Lok AotolaL
(3) tn a pending case where only one of the parties had made applfcatron to the court for referring the case to Lok Adalat, or where the court suomotu is satisfied that the case is appropriate to take cognizance by Lok Adalat, the case shall not be referred to the Lok Adalat except after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the parties.