Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in State of Punjab and another v. Jalour Singh and others, 2008(1) Apex Court Judgments 535 (SC), held that the Lok Adalat has no adjudicatory or judicial functions. Its functions relate purely to conciliation. It determines a reference on the basis of a compromise or settlement between the parties. It was held that the Lok Adalat has no power to hear parties to adjudicate a case. It discusses the subject matter with the parties and persuades them to arrive at a just settlement. It was, however, further held that the award passed by the Lok Adalat, in terms of settlement arrived at between the parties, duly signed by the parties and annexed to the award, is final and binding on parties. It is executable, as if it is a decree of a civil Court. No appeal against it lies to any Court. Such an award can only be challenged by filing a petition under Article 226 and/or Article 227 of the Constitution, and, that, too, on very limited grounds.