The Supreme Court is set to organize Samadhan Samaroh 2026, a special Lok Adalat aimed at the amicable settlement of pending cases, from August 21 to 23. This announcement was made by Basavaraj, the principal district and sessions judge and chairman of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), during a press conference on Tuesday.
Case Identification and Mediation Process
Judge Basavaraj informed reporters that the Supreme Court has identified 4,328 cases across Karnataka that are suitable for settlement through mediation. Among these, 43 cases are from Dakshina Kannada and are currently pending before the apex court. He explained that if the identified matters fall within the jurisdiction of the Legal Services Authority, notices will be issued to the parties concerned, mediators will be appointed, and arrangements will be made to facilitate mediation proceedings.
Individuals who have doubts or seek clarification regarding the settlement of their pending Supreme Court cases can approach the local Taluk Legal Services Committee or the DLSA for assistance.
Special Lok Adalats for NI Act Cases
Judge Basavaraj further stated that special Lok Adalats for cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act will be conducted on July 18 and November 21. He emphasized that awareness programs would be organized to encourage parties to settle disputes amicably through mediation. In Dakshina Kannada alone, there are 13,357 pending cheque bounce cases, highlighting the need for such initiatives.
National Lok Adalat on July 11
The judge also announced that the national Lok Adalat will be held across Dakshina Kannada district on July 11 to ensure speedy and amicable resolution of disputes. The Lok Adalat will take up a wide range of matters, including motor accident compensation claims, cheque bounce cases, matrimonial and property disputes, bank recovery cases, illegal sand mining matters, labor and land acquisition compensation cases, birth certificate-related issues, pension disputes, and pre-litigation cases related to electricity and water bills.
Proceedings will be held at courts in Mangaluru, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal, Belthangady, and Moodubidire.
Benefits of Settlement through Lok Adalat
Basavaraj pointed out that once a pending case is settled through a Lok Adalat, the court fee paid by the parties is refunded, and the settlement becomes final with no provision for appeal. This ensures a conclusive resolution without further litigation.
Pending Cases in Dakshina Kannada
DLSA member secretary and senior civil judge Zaibunnisa revealed that approximately 55,335 cases are pending in Dakshina Kannada district courts. During the previous Lok Adalat held in March, as many as 3,197 cases were disposed of, and compensation amounting to Rs 19 crore was awarded. This demonstrates the effectiveness of Lok Adalats in reducing the burden on courts and providing timely justice.
