Bantwal: The National Lok Adalat held at the Bantwal Senior Civil Court premises on Saturday recorded settlements and recoveries exceeding Rs 4.49 crore, with a large number of civil, criminal and pre-litigation cases resolved through mutual agreement.
Organised as part of the nationwide National Lok Adalat initiative, the programme facilitated the amicable settlement of eligible disputes, helping reduce the burden of pending litigation while offering parties a quicker and cost-effective resolution.
Court officials said the Lok Adalat witnessed an encouraging response from litigants, advocates and officials, with thousands of cases being disposed of through conciliation and compromise.
Over Rs 4.49 crore settled
According to court authorities, 19 civil cases were resolved during the Lok Adalat, resulting in settlements amounting to Rs 49,48,941.
In addition, 257 criminal cases involving compoundable offences were disposed of, leading to the collection of Rs 13,00,124 towards fines and other payments.
The largest contribution came from 42,322 pre-litigation cases, which were settled through mutual agreement, resulting in a total settlement and recovery amount of Rs 3,86,26,969.
Overall, the Lok Adalat facilitated settlements and recoveries worth more than Rs 4.49 crore, reflecting the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in resolving cases without prolonged court proceedings.
Speedy justice through mutual settlement
Court officials said the National Lok Adalat is designed to provide a simple, speedy and affordable forum for resolving disputes where compromise is legally permissible.
By encouraging dialogue and mutual agreement between parties, Lok Adalats help reduce the backlog of pending cases while ensuring that litigants receive timely justice.
The initiative also saves time and litigation costs for the parties involved and promotes amicable resolution of disputes without the need for lengthy trials.
Officials noted that the success of the Bantwal Lok Adalat demonstrates the growing public confidence in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Judicial officers and advocates participate
The Lok Adalat proceedings were conducted in the presence of judicial officers, government advocates and members of the legal fraternity.
Among those present were Senior Civil Judge Anil Prakash M P, Principal Civil Judge Rajendra K S, Additional Civil Judge Soundarya M, Bantwal Advocates’ Association President Richard Costa M, Assistant Government Pleaders Harini Kumari D and Saraswati, and Additional Government Advocate B Venkataramana Shenoy.
Court staff, practising advocates and members of the public also participated in the proceedings.
Couple reconciles during Lok Adalat
An emotional moment marked the Lok Adalat proceedings when a couple involved in a matrimonial dispute decided to reconcile instead of proceeding with separation.
Following counselling and mediation conducted by Senior Civil Judge Anil Prakash M P, the couple agreed to resolve their differences and continue their married life together.
Advocates P Banushankar and P Jayaram Rai also assisted in the reconciliation process.
In a symbolic gesture marking their renewed commitment, the couple exchanged garlands within the court premises, bringing a positive conclusion to their legal dispute.
The reconciliation highlighted one of the broader objectives of Lok Adalats—promoting dialogue, understanding and mutually acceptable solutions in cases where relationships can be preserved.
Strengthening alternative dispute resolution
The successful conduct of the National Lok Adalat in Bantwal underscores the importance of mediation and negotiated settlements in India’s judicial system.
By resolving thousands of cases in a single day, the initiative not only eases the burden on courts but also enables litigants to obtain quicker resolutions without prolonged legal proceedings.
Judicial officers expressed hope that more people would make use of Lok Adalats in eligible matters, allowing disputes to be settled efficiently while fostering harmony and reducing litigation.