Settlement of Whopping Rs 1,313 Crores in Lok Adalat, Highest in Maharashtra So Far

Nearly 3 lakh cases were disposed of by 1,318 benches across Maharashtra on Sunday, August 1, 2021, in the First National Lok Adalat organised after seven months under the State Legal Services Authorities. Out of the total of 11,28,685 cases taken up, 2, 90,563 cases were settled, in which 1,27,621 were pre-litigation cases, and 80,626 were pending cases. An additional 82,316 pending cases were disposed of in a three-day Special Drive, MSLSA said in a press statement. "It is material to note that the settlement amount was Rs 1313.34 Crores, the highest so far. The maximum amount was Rs 1090 crore, till now." Dinesh Surana, Member Secretary of the MSLSA said. "A hybrid mode for settlement was adopted to avoid overcrowding in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, with both virtual and physical mode hearings", MSLSA added. Lok Adalat is an alternative dispute redressal mechanism where certain disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at the pre-litigation stage are settled/compromised amicably. It has got statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties. No appeal against such an award lies before any court of law. MSLSA functions under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). Chief Justice Dipankar Datta is a patron, Justice A. A. Sayed is the Executive Chairman of MSLSA. On August 1, Lok Adalats were organised in 34 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and 3 High Court Legal Services Committee/Sub-Committee (HCLSCs). Justice A A Sayed stressed upon Pre-Lok Adalat sittings or pre-counselling sessions well before the National Lok Adalat in order to ensure maximum settlement between the parties i.e. in cases like MACT, matrimonial cases, cheque bouncing cases. This would enable parties to get one or more chances to enter into a dialogue with their opponents to get the maximum settlement. "Due to said pre-counselling sessions, a matter was amicably settled online during the Lok Adalat and the award was digitally signed by both the parties as well as Panel Head and members of the Panel." MSLSA also stated that,"At Udgir, Dist. Latur also one partition suit was settled on the day of National Lok Adalat by using the virtual platform. In that case, one of the defendants resided in USA, plaintiff in Udgir. By using the virtual mode, presence of one of the defendant was secured through virtual platform and suit is settled." "Now, the next National Lok Adalat of the year is scheduled on 25th September, 2021" , Milind Todkar, the Deputy Legal Secretary of the MSLSA said.

Settlement of Whopping Rs 1,313 Crores in Lok Adalat, Highest in Maharashtra So Far

Sharmeen Hakim

Out of the total of 11,28,685 cases taken up, 2, 90,563 cases were settled in the First National Lok Adalat organised after seven months.

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