Mohali: Over 21,000 cases settled in National Lok Adalat; awards worth ₹201.61 cr passed

A wide range of cases was taken up, including pre-litigative and pending criminal compoundable offences, cheque bounce matters under Section 138 of the NI Act, bank recovery cases, MACT (Motor Accident Claim Tribunal) cases, matrimonial and labour disputes, land acquisition matters, electricity and water bill disputes, service-related claims, and civil suits.

At the district headquarters alone, 17 benches were constituted, presided over by senior judicial officers, including Additional District & Sessions Judges, Family Court Judges, Civil Judges, the presiding officer of the Industrial Tribunal, and the chairperson of the Permanent Lok Adalat. Additional six benches in Kharar and seven in Dera Bassi also took up cases.

Surabhi Prashar, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar, confirmed: “Out of 23,469 cases taken up, 21,192 cases were disposed of through compromise, resulting in awards of over Rs 201 crore.”

The authorities noted that extensive pre-Lok Adalat efforts, including coordination with banks, insurance companies, and government departments, played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the drive.