A lok adalat bench at the family court in Cuttack on Sunday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 25: The National Lok Adalat organised throughout the state on Sunday successfully disposed of a record 1.89 lakh cases pending in various courts.

For the first time, lok adalats were held on Saturday all over the country in all courts, including the Supreme Court and high courts, with an aim to dispose of lakhs of cases in a day. Due to the State Bar Council elections in Odisha on Saturday, the cases referred to the National Lok Adalat were taken up for disposal on Sunday. In Madhya Pradesh, it has been deferred to November 30 due to ongoing Assembly elections.

The concerted efforts of the Odisha State Legal Services Authority, along with District Legal Services Authority in 30 districts over a few weeks during the special drive in a run up to the nationwide National Lok Adalat under National Legal Services Authority, bore fruit with over 1.89 lakh cases being disposed of in a single day.

Official sources said around 15 lakh cases were pending at different courts across the state, including 3.8 lakh in the high court.

According to State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), the lok adalat benches constituted in the high court with sitting judges settled 241 cases, while other benches across the state apparently set a record by amicably settling over 1.89 lakh cases.

“The 380 lok adalat benches from the high court to taluk courts had successful day-long sittings on Sunday. While 241 cases were settled by the 12 lok adalat benches in the high court, reposts say 1,89,318 cases were settled in the rest of the state,” SLSA member secretary Sashikanta Mishra told The Telegraph.

“The National Lok Adalat aimed at reducing backlog in courts vis-à-vis providing speedy and inexpensive justice to the people. Yesterday’s efforts settled 1,63,337 pending cases and 25,981 pre-litigation cases in the state,” Mishra said. “A total compensation of Rs 42.40 crore was awarded in 2,521 motor accident claim cases,” he said.

“A detailed report on the number of cases settled under other categories will be compiled after receipt of complete data reports from all the 30 districts,” he added.

A SLSA official said civil and criminal cases, cheque bounce and bank recovery cases, civil suits, family and matrimonial disputes, revenue matters, land acquisition matters, consumer cases, labour matters and petty crime cases pending in the high court and lowers courts having potential for settlement through arbitration and mutual settlement had been referred to the National Lok Adalat benches across the state.

Reports received at the SLSA control room here indicated that highest number of cases (17,966) was disposed off in Cuttack district. Khurda and Sundargarh districts followed with 14,248 and 13,947 cases, respectively.