Residents of Dakshina Kannada district have a significant opportunity to settle long-pending legal disputes quickly and amicably. A major National Lok Adalat is scheduled for December 13, operating from 24 benches across the district. This initiative is designed to reduce the burden on conventional courts and provide speedy justice through mutual consent.
What Cases Will Be Heard at the Lok Adalat?
Principal District and Sessions Judge, who also serves as the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Basavaraj, outlined the wide range of disputes eligible for resolution. He informed reporters that the Lok Adalat will accept cases including motor vehicle accident compensation claims, cheque bounce matters, and various civil disputes. These civil disputes cover matrimonial and property-related issues, bank loan recovery cases, and pre-litigation matters.
Furthermore, the adalat will consider conflicts involving electricity and water bills, rental agreements, insurance claims, and pension-related issues. The core principle is to encourage parties to arrive at a mutually agreed settlement, thereby avoiding the prolonged and expensive process of traditional litigation.
Special Concession on Pending E-Challan Fines
In a related and beneficial move for the public, the state government has announced a substantial concession on certain pending fines. A 50% discount is being offered on pending transport and police department e-challan fines ahead of the National Lok Adalat.
Specifically, this 50% concession applies to fines for cases recorded by the transport department between the financial years 1991-92 and 2019-20. Judge Basavaraj clarified that citizens can avail of this reduced payment rate until December 12, the day before the Lok Adalat.
Mediation Drives and Pending Caseload
The push for alternative dispute resolution comes against the backdrop of a substantial number of pending cases. As of December 1, a total of 55,555 cases are pending across various courts in Dakshina Kannada. From this pool, 9,051 cases have been specifically identified and listed for resolution through mediation.
Efforts are already underway. A dedicated 90-day mediation drive was conducted from July 1 to October 6 this year. Zaibunnisa, the Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, reported that out of 39,803 cases taken up during this drive, 200 were successfully resolved. So far, 1,009 cases have been settled through mediation in the district, and another 3,818 cases have been formally referred to the upcoming Lok Adalat.
Due to these concerted efforts, Dakshina Kannada district currently holds the fifth position in the entire state for the number of case settlements achieved through mediation drives.
The upcoming National Lok Adalat represents a crucial chance for individuals and businesses to close lingering legal chapters efficiently. Authorities urge eligible parties to actively participate and make use of this mechanism for faster justice.
