Year’s third nat’l lok adalat settles 900k+ cases in Chattisgarh

Raipur: The third National Lok Adalat has crossed new legal horizons, with the settlement of 900,513 cases, including pre-litigation and pending cases, and awards amounting to more than Rs 230 crores. The cases covered a wide range of subjects, such as labour disputes, motor accident claims, cheque dishonour cases, land acquisition cases, arbitration cases, matrimonial cases, and issues related to electricity and water bills.
The third National Lok Adalat of the year was successfully conducted on Saturday throughout the State under the guidance of Chhattisgarh high court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha, who also serves as the Patron-in-Chief of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (CGSLSA).The Lok Adalat covered various judicial levels, from Taluka courts to the high court, enhancing the accessibility and speed of justice delivery.
To expand the reach of justice in Lok Adalats, technology was utilised through the deployment of mobile vans and virtual platforms, ensuring that settlements were carried out not only in physical courtrooms but also through virtual means. This approach eliminated obstacles for those who could not travel to the courtrooms. In the flood-affected areas of Sukma district, where litigants faced difficulties in reaching court premises, cases were settled through video conferencing.
Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha played a crucial role in the success of the National Lok Adalat by virtually connecting with all 23 district courts of the state from the high court. He interacted with principal district judges and judicial officers, encouraging them to successfully resolve disputes in the National Lok Adalat. "Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha's engagement was pivotal to the success of National Lok Adalat, as he shared insights, assessed ongoing proceedings, and inspired judicial officers from even the remote parts of the state."
The Chief Justice also visited two of the benches constituted for the National Lok Adalat at the high court of Chhattisgarh. Under his leadership, thorough preparations for this National Lok Adalat were carried out across the state, including pre-sittings and counselling sessions, where parties were encouraged to settle disputes amicably.