Today, as far as the Lok Adalats are concerned, Gujarat has set a unique benchmark in the history of general public venues. The results are extraordinary, bringing the figure of pending cases to a single digit. A monument not only for the commitment towards justice but also brings relief to thousands caught in twisted legal wrangles.
Millions of cases are piled up in courts all over India, but the Lok Adalat of Gujarat has opened a window for the prompt and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Historic Success in Gujarat’s Lok Adalat
The first National Lok Adalat of the new calendar year recorded an outcome of grandeur. Out of 13.2 lakh cases put up, around 7.3 lakh cases were settled amicably. This phenomenon indeed echoes considerable testimony to the efficiency and dedication of the judicial system in Gujarat. The case awards in this category totaled a monumental ₹2,743 crores to shed much-needed relief to untold lives and families.
Another 4.37 lakh pre-litigation cases got settled, with ₹75.39 crore declared as awards for that cohort. In yet another significant initiative, 3.80 lakh e-challan cases were addressed, and recoveries worth ₹18 crore were recorded as fines.
These figures indicate the proactive stance of the state towards relieving the burden on its judiciary and serving justice to all.
A new year, a new start
The first National Lok Adalat of the year 2024 has been organized in a pre-planned way all over Gujarat to see maximum participation and benefit for as many parties as possible. It stated that the areas of settlement should include claims for the compensation on account of motor accidents, civil disputes, criminal cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act (cheque bounce cases), and marriage disputes. Out of the total 13,02,486 cases registered for settlement, around 7,03,517 cases were settled amicably.
It has served the purpose of not only accelerating justice but also developing confidence and satisfaction in the hearts of the people. Closure has proven to be an important milepost in the judicial journey of the state, as decades-old cases now resolved have added closure to the lives of many families and individuals.
Settle Marital Disputes: A Beacon of Hope
An even more glorious achievement of this Lok Adalat was the settlement of 2,761 marriage disputes. Lok Adalat was held by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Biren Vaishnav to settle the matters amicably between spouses. After being disappointed last year, where about 3,004 marriage disputes were settled in the entire state, this proved successful.
Resolution of these kinds of cases lessens the emotional and financial burden on the families and enhances their collective strength in society. It teaches a lesson that justice does not only mean achieving legal results but also restoring harmony to people’s lives.
Achievement Year
Only in the year 2024, Gujarat organized four Lok Adalats resolving a dismal total of 21,61,048 cases. This included a disposal of 1,296 pending cases of more than 10 years. Thus, all achievements are effectively filling the gaps regarding how Lok Adalats serve, through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, thus enabling justice to be quicker and cheaper.