In a first of its kind National Lok Adalat, a whopping 71.50 lakh cases pending in various courts throughout the country were disposed of.
According to National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the National Lok Adalat was organised across the country on November 23 while it was held in Madhya Pradesh on November 30 due to the Assembly elections. In Odisha and Meghalaya, it was held on November 24 and 25 respectively on account of local exigencies, it said.
"Out of these 71.50 lakh cases, 20.81 lakh cases were pre-litigation matters, involving bank loans, telephone and electricity and water bills etc. 5.22 lakh traffic challans, both pending in the various courts across the country and at pre-litigative stage were also disposed of," the NALSA said in a statement issued today.
"Thus, through Lok Adalat settlements, plea bargaining and special sittings of magistrates, a total of 45.47 lakh (cases) have been removed from the pendency as these many pending cases have been settled amicably and with finality and with no further appeals," it said.
On November 23, the three Lok Adalat benches constituted in the Supreme Court had settled 5l cases.
Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam had inaugurated the National Lok Adalat at the apex court on November 23 and had said that presiding members of Lok Adalats must ensure that litigants are not "intimidated" or "misled" to give their consent to the decisions as they are final and cannot be appealed against.