In a landmark move to decongest the judicial system, a special National Lok Adalat held in Bengaluru on December 13 achieved a monumental feat by resolving a staggering number of long-pending cases. The event led to the disposal of over 104.6 lakh cases and facilitated settlements worth Rs 3,103 crore.
Massive Clearance of Traffic Challans and Pre-Litigation Matters
Justice Anu Sivaraman, the Executive Chairperson of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), revealed these details at a press conference. A primary objective of this Lok Adalat was to tackle the immense backlog of traffic violation cases. To incentivize resolution, the state government offered a 50% concession on pending fines and transport department fees for offences recorded between 1990 and 2020.
This proactive measure proved highly effective. Prior to the event, a colossal 444.2 lakh traffic challan cases were pending since 2019, involving fines of Rs 2,695 crore. Additionally, 4.3 lakh cases were pending before the transport department from 1991 to 2025. The concession led to the resolution of 24.2 lakh traffic challan cases as pre-litigation matters and resulted in the collection of more than Rs 56 crore in fines.
Wide-Ranging Settlement of Civil and Motor Accident Cases
The Lok Adalat's impact extended far beyond traffic fines. It provided a platform for amicable settlements in various sensitive and complex disputes. Notably, the forum settled 2,469 matrimonial cases, which included matters under Section 125 of the CrPC (maintenance) and the Domestic Violence Act.
Furthermore, a significant number of property and accident-related disputes were resolved. The Adalat disposed of over 3,673 partition suits and 4,660 motor vehicle accident cases. The total settlement amount for these motor accident claims alone reached Rs 297 crore, providing much-needed relief to victims and their families.
Clearing Decades-Old Backlogs
One of the most notable achievements of this National Lok Adalat was its success in resolving cases that had been languishing in the system for years, and in some cases, for over a decade. Justice Sivaraman highlighted that the event successfully disposed of:
- 2,268 cases pending for more than five years.
- 351 cases pending for more than ten years.
- 56 cases that had been awaiting adjudication for over fifteen years.
This massive exercise demonstrates the critical role Lok Adalats play in providing accessible and speedy justice. By resolving over 101.6 lakh pre-litigation cases and over 3 lakh pending court cases, the Bengaluru Lok Adalat has not only brought closure to millions of citizens but also significantly reduced the burden on the conventional courts of Karnataka.
