The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) successfully organized the 1st National Lok Adalat for the year 2025 across Taluks, Districts, and High Courts in 34 States and Union Territories on 8th March, 2025 under the esteemed leadership of Hon’ble Patron-in-Chief, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of India and Hon'ble Executive Chairman Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing access to justice through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The National Lok Adalat will be organized in
Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu on 22nd March, 2025.

The Lok Adalats align with the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the National Legal Services Authority (Lok Adalats) Regulations, 2009. With the statutory status, it serves as a crucial forum for an expeditious, cost-effective, and effective resolution of disputes, settling disputes amicably with final awards.

The 1st National Lok Adalat of 2025 addressed a broad spectrum of disputes, including pre-litigation and pending cases related to criminal compoundable offences, traffic challans, plea bargaining, revenue cases, bank recovery matters, motor accident claims, cheque dishonour cases, labour disputes, matrimonial disputes (excluding divorce cases), land acquisition cases, IPR
matters and consumer matters, among others.

According to reports received from the State Legal Services Authorities, as of 06:00 PM today, a total of 1,57,55,783 cases have been successfully settled, comprising 1,34,93,613 pre-litigation cases and 22,62,170 pending cases.

The approximate value of the total settlement amount in these cases stands at Rs. 5,473 crores. These figures are expected to rise as final reports are awaited from various State Legal Services Authorities.

The success of the 1st National Lok Adalat of 2025 underscores the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution in reducing the burden on the judiciary and ensuring timely justice for all. NALSA remains steadfast in its commitment to organizing more Lok Adalats and strengthening the legal aid framework across the country, making justice more accessible to the marginalized and economically weaker sections of society.

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