Hon’ble Chief Justice Shri Ramesh Sinha conducted a virtual inspection of the National Lok Adalat across 23 District Courts of the Chhattisgarh State.
This National Lok Adalat spanned judicial levels from the Taluka courts to the High Court, making justice more approachable and swifter. To boost the morale of Judicial Officers and instill a strengthened sense of security and faith in the institution of Lok Adalat among citizens, the Hon’ble Chief Justice virtually connected with all 23 District Courts of the State from the High Court. He interacted with Principal District Judges and Judicial Officers, encouraging them to ensure the successful resolution of disputes in the National Lok Adalat. His engagement was pivotal to the success of the event, as he shared insights, assessed ongoing proceedings, and inspired Judicial Officers, even in the more remote parts of the State.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice also visited two of the benches constituted for the National Lok Adalat at the High Court of Chhattisgarh. Under his noble leadership, meticulous efforts were undertaken throughout the State in preparation for this National Lok Adalat, including pre-sittings and counseling sessions, where parties were encouraged to settle disputes amicably.
To broaden access to justice through Lok Adalats by leveraging technology, mobile vans and virtual platforms were deployed to ensure that justice was served not only in physical courtrooms but also through virtual means. This removed barriers for those unable to travel to courtrooms, particularly in flood-affected areas of District Sukma, where litigants faced difficulties reaching court premises. In such cases, disputes were settled via video conferencing.
The data from the National Lok Adalat revealed a staggering success, with more than 8,84,000 cases settled, including both pre-litigation and pending cases, and awards amounting to over ₹229 crores. These cases covered various subjects, including labor disputes, motor accident claims, cheque dishonor cases, civil cases, land acquisition cases, plea bargaining, criminal compoundable offenses, arbitration cases, matrimonial disputes, and issues related to electricity and water bills.
During his virtual address and interactions via video conferencing, Hon’ble Chief Justice Shri Ramesh Sinha extended his congratulations and best wishes to all Judicial Officers and stakeholders involved. He expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Presiding Judges of the two benches constituted for the High Court, the esteemed Principal District Judges of all 23 District Courts, the Presiding Officers and members of all the benches, as well as the deployed staff, PLVs, officers of other departments, and all stakeholders who contributed directly or indirectly to the disposal process. He also thanked the print and electronic media for amplifying the relevance of Lok Adalat. Special thanks were extended to the litigants, who braved the challenges of weather and long journeys to make this Lok Adalat a historic success.
The persistent monitoring, guidance, and motivation of Hon’ble Chief Justice Shri Ramesh Sinha for this and previous National Lok Adalats have been instrumental in their success, standing as a testament to the relentless pursuit of accessible justice in Chhattisgarh. This event has set a historic precedent for future endeavors.
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