1st physical National Lok Adalat of the year: More than 40 lakh cases resolved in a single day

The Legal Services Authorities across the country, under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman, NALSA, organised the first National Lok Adalat of the year 2022 in all the 36 States/UTs on 12^th March in both physical and hybrid mode. The Hon’ble Executive Chairman, NALSA had himself actively monitored the working and functioning of the Lok Adalats through virtual conferencing.

Today, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lalit interacted with State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities and guided them. His Lordship appreciated the work done at the ground level by the Presiding Officers, Lawyers, Interns and laid emphasis on the aspect that National Lok Adalats are imperative to reduce the huge pendency in the justice system of the country. Maharashtra SLSA constituted special women benches in all districts, wherein matters pertaining to women were taken up and resolved in large number.

During the day, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lalit virtually connected and interacted with nearly 40 benches of 16 States & UTs.  These States are Manipur, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Assam, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Lalit also interacted with parties in a more than 50-year-old partition suit, which was resolved in today’s National Lok Adalat by way of compromise.  In another case where an old woman suffering from paralysis connected virtually by Lok Adalat benches also interacted with Hon’ble Justice Lalit.  The old lady expressed her satisfaction after her civil dispute was resolved by amicable settlement.

With the proactive guidance and supervision of the Hon’ble Executive Chairman, NALSA, the Legal Services Authorities across the countries had recorded unprecedented disposal figures during the earlier National Lok Adalats of 2021. Hon’ble Justice Lalit stressed need of quick and affordable access to common men so that he is encouraged to actively participate in the process. 

In Lok Adalats, cases such as Criminal Compoundable Cases, Revenue Cases and Bank Recovery Cases, Motor Accident Claims, Matrimonial Disputes, Cheque Bounce Cases under the Negotiable Instrument Act, Labour Disputes, and other Civil Cases were taken up. A large number of recovery maters related to financial institutions, banks, government bodies and private service providers were also instituted as pre-litigation cases.  In pre-litigation case, the matter is negotiated and settled without formal institution before any court of law.  In Chhattisgarh Municipality of Raipur have filed nearly 33,000 pre-litigation cases for recovery of dues related to municipal services. 

NALSA have also directed the State/UTs Legal Services Authorities to observe COVID-19 protocol prevalent in the States/UTs as per the guidelines issued by the Government of India as well as State Governments.

Hon’ble Executive Chairman, NALSA virtually interacted with different benches of Tamil Nadu.

Across the country, the latest data available till 4.30 PM indicates that, 1.38 crores cases were taken up out of which 1.10 crores cases were pre-litigation cases and 28.34 lacs cases were pending cases. A total of 40 lacs cases were disposed of today, indicating a huge achievement and success for the Legal Services Authorities. It was on account of the keen participation by the stakeholders that the Legal Services Authorities have been able to achieve this huge disposal. The process of Lok Adalat is still continuing at most of the places and litigants are making efforts in setting their disputes. The details up to 4.00 PM are as follows:

The disposal figures are expected to rise as the data from far flung areas has still awaited and in some of the urban areas, benches still functioning for disposal.  

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