NEW DELHI: In a seamless coordinated effort, the fourth and last National Lok Adalat for this year, organised by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), settled 1.45 crore cases, and importantly, prevented 1.22 crore fresh cases entering the system, which is already groaning under a monstrous pendency of 4.65 crore cases.
Working with the motto ‘Resolving Disputes, Restoring Harmony’, Lok Adalats held on Saturday in all states, except Rajasthan, settled a total of 1.45 crore cases, including 1.22 crore pre-litigation cases and 23.7 lakh pending cases in trial courts. This is the first national Lok Adalat held under the guidance of NALSA patron-in-chief and CJI Sanjiv Khanna and NALSA executive chairman Justice B R Gavai.
Lok Adalats in Rajasthan would be held on Dec 21 and Dec 22, following the completion of election process to district bar associations.
NALSA’s member secretary Bharat Parashar said the increasing success of Lok Adalats with every passing year reflected the public trust in the mechanism that is affordable.
According to officer on special duty at NALSA, Shreya Arora Mehta, total settlement amount for these cases is approximately Rs 7,462 crore, which is likely to see a northward trend as final figures of settled amounts are yet to come in from many state legal services authorities till late evening.