Justice after 25-year wait as cases pending for decades settled in High Court Lok Adalat
Old but not forgotten cases found their way under the gavel on Saturday as a legal dispute pending for 25 years finally reached closure during the National Lok Adalat held at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
It was not the only matter to emerge from the shadows of time. Among the 151 cases disposed of through mutual settlement were 73 cases pending for over five years, 50 awaiting decisions for more than a decade, 12 cases older than 20 years, and 15 matters stuck between 20 and 24 years.
Altogether, the Lok Adalat witnessed settlements amounting to ₹5,77,76,000, with the majority of resolved disputes involving motor accident claim cases.
Held as part of the nationwide initiative of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the Lok Adalat at the High Court was organised with the coordination of the High Court Legal Services Committee, under the overall supervision of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, patron-in-chief of the Committee, and Justice Sudhir Singh, who chairs the Committee.
Four benches were constituted for the exercise, headed by Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, Justice Kirti Singh, Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa and Justice Rohit Kapoor. A total of 458 cases had been enlisted before these benches for possible amicable resolution.
Swati Sehgal, secretary of the High Court Legal Services Committee, said the Committee intended to identify more cases for future Lok Adalats to help reduce pendency and provide litigants with a cost-effective and expeditious platform to settle disputes without prolonged litigation.
The Committee also expressed gratitude to the judges, members of the Bar, litigants and court staff whose cooperation contributed to the smooth conduct of the Lok Adalat.
National Lok Adalats, held periodically under NALSA’s banner, are viewed as vital instruments for reducing the burden of pending cases in courts by facilitating settlements through compromise rather than prolonged trials.
Haryana Tribune