3rd National Lok Adalat resolves 1.14 cr cases, paving way for swift, affordable justice

New Delhi [India], September 14 (ANI): The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Saturday successfully organised the 3rd National Lok Adalat of the year 2024 in the Taluks, Districts and High Courts of 27 States/Union Territories (UT).

In the remaining states/UTs, the 3rd National Lok Adalat will be held after the prevailing Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam festivities.

The present Lok Adalat was organised under the stewardship of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA.

In a press statement, NALSA stated that by the evening, a significant number of 1,14,56,529 cases (One crore fourteen lakh fifty-six thousand five hundred twenty-nine) have been settled at the 3rd National Lok Adalat on September 14, including 94,60,864 pre-litigation cases (Ninety-four lakh sixty thousand eight hundred sixty-four) and 19,95,665 pending cases (Nineteen lakh ninety-five thousand six hundred sixty-five).

This includes the resolution of a wide range of cases, including criminal compoundable offences, traffic challans, revenue cases, bank recovery cases, motor accident claims, cheque dishonour cases, labour disputes, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce cases), land acquisition cases, IPR or consumer matters, and other civil cases.

“The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases was 8482.08 crores (Eight thousand four hundred eighty-two point zero eight). The number of settled cases is expected to rise as reports are awaited from some State Legal Services Authorities,” stated NALSA.

This overwhelming response from citizens aligns with the intention behind Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the National Legal Services Authority (Lok Adalats) Regulations, 2009.

The present success reflects the trust of the people in Lok Adalats, significantly enhancing access to justice, especially for the underprivileged and marginalised sections of society. NALSA remains committed to organising more Lok Adalats and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the country, Santosh Snehi Mann, Member Secretary, National Legal Services Authority.

Lok Adalat plays a crucial role in facilitating amicable settlements and compromises between disputing parties, functioning as an alternative to the traditional court system. It is an important component of India’s effort to provide access to justice for all, a mission led by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

NALSA promotes legal awareness and provides free legal services to economically weaker sections of society. By organising Lok Adalats, NALSA helps reduce the burden on formal courts, offering a speedy, cost-effective, and informal platform for dispute resolution.

Lok Adalats focus on resolving civil, family, and minor criminal cases through mutual understanding and negotiation. Decisions made by Lok Adalats are legally binding and cannot be appealed in higher courts, ensuring finality in settlements.