Hold more Lok Adalats, CJI tells High Courts

First Lok Adalat of apex court settles 25 cases
SPEEDY JUSTICE: The first Supreme Court Lok Adalat in progress in the court complex in New Delhi on Saturday.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, in its first Lok Adalat on Saturday, settled 25 cases arising out of appeals relating to motor accident compensation claims and matrimonial and labour matters pending for years.
For the first time, cameras were allowed inside the court hall for the media to take pictures of the proceedings.
Inaugurating, Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said courts should settle disputes through Lok Adalats at regular intervals to meet the biggest challenge to the judiciary — pendency.
“We want the High Courts to organise Lok Adalats on a larger scale.” Justice Balakrishnan sought the cooperation of litigants in making adjudication through this medium a success.
“Lok Adalat comes as a relief to a large number of litigants and as salvation for the courts burdened with a large pendency of cases. Maybe, a few drops of water in the ocean, as some cases could be settled with the consent of both parties. Lok Adalat would help in the settlement of cheque dishonour cases, motor accident claims cases and other criminal cases which are compoundable.”
On Saturday, 45 cases were listed for hearing: 32 accident compensation claims before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice and 13 matrimonial and labour disputes before Justices Ashok Bhan and Aftab Alam.
Initially, the Chief Justice along with Justices Arijit Pasayat and P. Sathasivam settled in a few minutes two cases of accident compensation claims.
J. Venkatesan
Sunday, May 04, 2008
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