A total of 151 cases were successfully resolved through mutual settlement during the National Lok Adalat conducted at the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday. The initiative, organised in coordination with the High Court Legal Services Committee, primarily focused on motor accident claim disputes. Among the resolved matters, a significant number had been pending for extended periods—73 cases were over five years old, 50 had been pending for over a decade, 12 had lingered for more than 20 years, 15 were between 20 and 24 years old, and one case had been awaiting resolution for 25 years. The cumulative settlement amount awarded in these cases stood at ₹5.77 crore.
The Lok Adalat was conducted under the overall supervision of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, who serves as the patron-in-chief of the High Court Legal Services Committee, along with Justice Sudhir Singh, Chairman of the Committee. Four dedicated benches were constituted to facilitate the settlement of listed matters. These benches were presided over by Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, Justice Kirti Singh, Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa, and Justice Rohit Kapoor. In total, 458 cases were placed before these benches for consideration, out of which 151 matters reached successful mutual resolution.
The National Lok Adalat is a recurring initiative of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It aims to promote the amicable settlement of disputes and to reduce the burden on courts by providing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that is both accessible and cost-effective. The mechanism allows litigants to reach mutually agreeable settlements without engaging in protracted litigation. Such Lok Adalats serve as a crucial platform for expeditious justice, particularly in civil, matrimonial, and compensation matters, where compromise and negotiation can lead to fair outcomes for all parties involved.
