30,460 cases settled at National Lok Adalat in Amritsar

A total of 30,460 cases were amicably settled during the National Lok Adalat held at the District Courts and the Sub-Divisional Courts at Ajnala and Baba Bakala Sahib here on Saturday. The lok adalat was organized as per the directions of the National Legal Services Authority, said Baljinder Singh, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

Amardeep Singh Bains, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-Secretary, DLSA, said cases related to criminal compoundable matters, bank recovery, cheque bounce, matrimonial disputes, electricity and water bills, telecom, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) matters, labour disputes, and summary traffic challans were taken up.

A total of 33 benches were constituted: 24 benches at the Amritsar District Courts, one at Permanent Lok Adalat, one at Industrial Tribunal (Labour Court), four benches at Ajnala, and three benches at Baba Bakala Sahib. Special benches were also set up for matrimonial and family disputes with the support of the Police Department’s Crime Against Women Cell.

The District and Sessions Judge highlighted that lok adalats provide an alternative dispute resolution mechanism where both pre-litigation and pending cases are settled amicably without litigation costs. He said that in recovery cases, court fees paid at the time of filing are refunded, making this process quick, cost effective and beneficial for litigants while helping reduce the burden of pending cases in courts.

Several significant cases were resolved during the lok adalat. A family dispute pending since 2022 was settled after the husband agreed to pay a lump sum of Rs 16.5 lakh. Another case between Kotak Mahindra Bank and Amarbir Singh was disposed of after a settlement of Rs 2.96 crore. In yet another case between Utkarsh Small Finance Bank and Malti Industries and others regarding a cheque matter of Rs 1.36 crore was resolved through court intervention.

Overall, 35,931 cases were taken up, out of which 30,460 were settled, with awards worth Rs 39.18 crore passed by the benches. The DLSA termed the National Lok Adalat a major success, bringing relief to thousands of litigants by providing speedy and cost-free justice.