Case Law Analysis
|Madhya Pradesh High Court
Section 321 CrPC | Lok Adalats Lack Jurisdiction to Approve Withdrawal of Criminal Prosecution: MP HC Jabalpur
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that Lok Adalats cannot entertain or decide applications for withdrawal of criminal prosecution under Section 321 CrPC, as such decisions require judicial scrutiny by a competent court. This clarifies a critical boundary between alternative dispute resolution forums and the core prosecutorial powers reserved for regular criminal courts, protecting complainants' rights in serious offences.