A total of 31,089 cases were settled for an award of Rs. 10.44 crore at the Mega Lok Adalat held simultaneously in various courts in the district on Saturday.
The largest beneficiaries were those in need of court orders, directing the local bodies to issue birth certificates.
A total of 3,785 persons got orders at the adalat held in Tiruchi, Lalgudi, Thuraiyur, Musiri, and Manapparai courts.
The adalat ensured expeditious settlement of cases involving motor vehicles.
A reconciliatory effort by lawyers and representatives of insurance companies facilitated the expeditious settlement of 557 cases to the tune of Rs. 6.73 crore.
“Road accidents often derail the economy of a family and the very livelihood of the injured persons. We ensure speedy settlement in these cases,” said the representatives of insurance companies who were present at the adalat.
This was evident from the fact that the persons who were injured in a few road accidents which took place less than a year ago got their settlement at the adalat.
“The adalat serves as a platform for insurance companies to understand the problems of the affected persons both on physical and fiscal grounds, and the injured to be happy over the speedy settlement,” said Malathy, Special Sub-judge, explaining the maximum award of Rs.13 lakh – a maximum relief awarded by the United India Insurance company to a person who suffered multiple injuries in a road accident in February 2012.
Interestingly, the Lok Adalat settled an execution petition in another road accident involving the death of a person. The New India Assurance Company deposited a cheque for Rs. 17.15 lakh in favour of the legal heirs of the victim on the spot.
The cases were perused by two former judges A. Ahamadullah and S. Krishnamurthy.
P. Velmurugan, Principal District and Sessions Judge, inaugurated the adalat.
The following is the list of other cases which were settled with the award within brackets: 14 land acquisition cases (Rs.1.11 crore); 202 non-performing assets (Rs.14.50 lakh); 481 civil disputes (Rs.1.73 crore); dishonour of 64 cheques (Rs. 8.28 lakh); and three criminal offences (Rs.11.50 lakh).
A total of 875 FIRs pending with various stations in the district were closed.