Maha Lok Adalats reduce pendency by over 7.95 lakh cases

As Maharashtra's District Legal Services Authority gears up to conduct another episode of Maha Lok Adalat on March 3, statistics show that earlier episodes helped the judiciary reduce pendency by as many as 7.95 lakh cases all over the state. In Nagpur courts alone, the Adalats helped settle 1.46 lakh cases in the last four episodes. About 1.23 lakh cases were settled in the first episode conducted on February 6, 2011. The second episode held on September 18 in the same year resolved 2.13 lakh cases, while the third episode on March 4 last year broke record of the previous two episodes by settling as many as 2.43 lakh cases, as per DLSA's official figures. However, the number was reduced to 2.15 lakh in its fourth episode held on September 16 last year. Similarly, in Nagpur courts, though the first episode saw settlement of 20,068 cases, the second evoked a poor response, with just 8,098 cases being resolved. Nagpur DLSA Secretary and Senior civil judge Kishore Jaiswal said Maha Lok Adalats have evoked an overwhelming response from litigants as it was conducted simultaneously at 32 districts in the state. "One cannot challenge the settlement of Maha Lok Adalat in any court and this helps reduce pendency in higher judiciary as well," Jaiswal said. While deliberating on other advantages, official sources said that resolving cases through this massive exercise not only saved litigants' time and money, but also helpes them to reduce stress. "In the last couple of years, over 1.5 lakh such matters were resolved before the parties knocked at the judiciary's doors," he said. About the March 3 event, Jaiswal said that massive preparations are being made. "It will be organised simultaneously at all types of courts -- at district, taluka, family, industrial, labour, co-operative, school and university tribunals," he said. "All types of civil cases, land acquisition matters, criminal cases (compoundable), matrimonial disputes, motor accident claim petitions, cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act and those under Motor Vehicles Act will be taken up for amicable settlement between the parties," he said.