4.81 lakh cases settled, Rs 617 crore awarded

More than 4.81 lakh cases were settled and settlement awards exceeding Rs 617 crore were passed in a single day during the Lok Adalat held across Punjab on Saturday under the National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) nationwide initiative.

A total of 5.50 lakh cases were taken up, with 4, 81,324 cases disposed of, resulting in settlements amounting to over Rs 617 crore. This marked a significant jump compared to the previous Lok Adalat held in March, which saw 3.66 lakh cases resolved.

The drive, overseen by Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court of India as the new Executive Chairman of NALSA, saw a massive legal outreach across the State.

Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu, also lent key leadership to the state’s efforts, while Executive Chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority Justice Deepak Sibal supervised the operational rollout across districts and subdivisions.

As many as 442 benches were constituted across the state for the day-long exercise, with active participation of banks, insurance companies, government departments and litigants. Acknowledging the collective efforts, Justice Sibal asserted: “The Lok Adalats are a testament to the idea that justice should not be delayed or adversarial. It is heartening to see that the people of Punjab embrace this collaborative mode of justice delivery.”

The Punjab State Legal Services Authority also expressed its thanks to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, judicial officers, Bar members, police and civil administration for their cooperation in facilitating the event.

Punjab