Bareilly: A massive legal settlement drive under the National Lok Adalat concluded successfully in Bareilly, where a total of 245,366 cases were resolved through mutual settlement and conciliation mechanisms.
The National Lok Adalat was organised under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. The event was formally inaugurated by District Judge Pradeep Kumar Singh II, who is also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Bareilly. The programme began with floral tributes and ceremonial lamp lighting before the idols of Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha.
Judicial officers, representatives of banks, insurance companies, lawyers, government departments, and administrative officials participated actively in the Lok Adalat to facilitate speedy and amicable disposal of pending cases.
According to Uma Shankar Kahar, settlement orders involving a total amount of ₹18.14 crore were passed during the Lok Adalat proceedings.
The session courts disposed of 437 cases and imposed fines amounting to ₹70.04 lakh, while civil courts resolved 84,012 cases with settlement amounts and fines totalling ₹17.29 lakh. Criminal courts disposed of 5,638 cases with penalties amounting to ₹17.01 lakh.
Family courts also played a significant role in reconciliation efforts, successfully facilitating settlements between 99 couples. Principal Judge Mohammad Ashraf Ansari settled 45 disputes through mutual agreement, while Additional Principal Judge Sanjay Kumar Singh resolved 54 cases.
The Commercial Court settled three cases involving a compromise amount of ₹33.40 lakh, while the Labour Department resolved 6,507 cases involving settlements worth more than ₹2.76 crore.
Administrative departments also participated extensively in the Lok Adalat. Government authorities collectively disposed of 51,895 cases, while the Transport Department settled 2,581 matters involving compromise amounts of ₹4.11 lakh.
The Police Department resolved 59,572 cases, including 22,463 e-challan cases, collecting fines amounting to ₹2.16 crore. Overall, a total of 108,309 e-challans were disposed of jointly by various courts and the Traffic Police Department during the Lok Adalat.
Other departments that participated in the settlement process included the Consumer Forum, Health Department, Municipal Corporation, District Panchayati Raj Department, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Canal Court, and the Bareilly Development Authority.
Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Jaya Priyadarshini said 25 special benches were constituted in the district court complex for settlement of bank-related disputes. Through these benches, 893 bank loan cases were resolved and recoveries amounting to ₹11.59 crore were made.
Special exhibitions were also organised during the Lok Adalat. Handicraft items prepared by inmates of Central Jail Bareilly and medicinal plants cultivated by prisoners from district jails were displayed and sold. Self-help groups also showcased local products under the “One District One Product” and “One District One Dish” initiatives.
To assist litigants and visitors, help desks were established at the Lok Adalat venue where para-legal volunteers and legal aid defence counsels provided guidance and support.
Officials said the successful conduct of the National Lok Adalat was made possible through the coordinated efforts of judicial officers, government departments, banking institutions, insurance companies, para-legal volunteers, court staff, and media representatives.
