It was a historic day for the judiciary as for the first time 35,10,390 cases pending in various courts were decided on one day in the National Lok Adalat held in the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and district and taluk courts across the country on Saturday.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which organised the Lok Adalat, said “a world record in disposal of cases amicably has apparently been created today in the national Lok Adalat.” It said virtually over 35 lakh cases were wiped out on one day and further figures would be collected in the next two days and it was likely the total disposal would be much more.
Lok Adalat aims at reducing pendency, while at the same time drawing attention of the public to the efficacious alternative dispute resolution method. The cases that were disposed of related to criminal compoundable cases, cheque bounce and bank recovery cases, civil suits, motor accident claims, labour, family and matrimonial disputes. In many States, revenue matters, land acquisition references, and consumer, service matters were also taken up.
In the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam inaugurated the programme and 107 cases were taken up, including 24 matrimonial/family disputes and 60 motor accident compensation claims, of which 51 were settled. The CJI presided over a Bench and other Benches were presided by Justice A.K. Patnaik and Ms. Ranjana Desai.
No further appeal
The inaugural programme was watched all over the country through videoconferencing and webcasting facilitated by the e-committee of the Supreme Court and the National Informatics Centre. There will be no further appeal for cases disposed of at the Lok Adalat.
The CJI said: “The Lok Adalat system provides an approachable forum to the poor, weaker and ignorant people who are often intimidated and confused by the greasy substantive and procedural laws. It is the first time since the inception of NALSA that such a National Lok Adalat is organised. Approximately, 39 lakhs cases are to be taken up in this National Lok Adalat.”
He said, “(In Madhya Pradesh 7,97,484 cases will be taken up on November 30 in view of the Assembly polls) in Maharashtra 5,66,102 cases will be taken up, whereas in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal around 4,00,000 and above cases are referred to Lok Adalats in each State. In Delhi 3,00,000 cases have been referred for the Lok Adalat of which 2,73,000 are challan cases alone.”
The CJI said that to sustain the faith in the system, it was obligatory for every presiding member of the Lok Adalat to make sincere efforts in bringing about a conciliated settlement in every case put before it without causing any kind of coercion, threat, undue influence, allurement or misrepresentation either directly or indirectly. They should ensure that the Lok Adalats were not used by unscrupulous parties to commit fraud, forgery etc.
Justice G. S. Singvi, the NALSA Executive Chairman, said when he first mooted the idea of a national Lok Adalat he did not realise so many cases could be taken up within a short time. “Lok Adalat and mediation are the most powerful instruments for delivery of speedy justice.”
Justice A.K. Patnaik, Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee; R.S. Gujral, Secretary, Department of Expenditure; Ravindra Maithani, Secretary General, Supreme Court; and Asha Menon, Member-Secretary, NALSA, were among those who also spoke.
