Lok Adalats: Settling cases in quick time

Even as the awareness on Lok Adalats has increased along with the regularity of such adalats being organised,a 11-year comparison of the number of Lok Adalats held annually and cases disposed of shows that the figures too have been on the rise.

Even as the awareness on Lok Adalats (peoples court) has increased along with the regularity of such adalats being organised,a 11-year comparison of the number of Lok Adalats held annually and cases disposed of shows that the figures too have been on the rise.

The statistics provided by Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) shows that 836 Lok Adalats were held in 2000-01 in which 24,329 cases were settled. This number doubled in 2005-06 when 2,668 Lok Adalat were held and 42,134 cases were settled and further went up to 3,228 Lok Adalats in 2010-11 in which 2.16 lakh cases were settled. (see box)

According to the common minimum programme declared by MSLSA,the various categories of Lok Adalats can be those in which all kinds of cases put up and those held exclusively include family matters,cooperative courts,charity commissioner,juvenile justice board,motor accident claim tribunal,labour and industrial court,toll cases and so on.

A majority of cases that are put in Lok Adalats are those pending before Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT). According to the statistics,the amount of compensation given to accident victims through Lok Adalat too has been rising steadily over the last decade. (see box) In 2000-01,a cumulative compensation of Rs 25 crore was given in MACT cases put up in Lok Adalat. This amount increased to Rs 62.20 crore in 2005-06 and was at an all time high of Rs 86. 92 core in 2010-11.

According to V R Kachre,deputy secretary,MSLSA,increased awareness among people and better publicity of Lok Adalats have helped in increasing the number of settled cases.

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