Bilaspur, May 9, 2025: To review preparations for the upcoming National Lok Adalat on May 10, 2025, Hon’ble Shri Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh and Patron in Chief of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, held a virtual meeting with all Principal District Judges, Chairpersons, Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), Judges of Family Courts, Chairmen of Permanent Lok Adalats, Chief Judicial Magistrates, and Judges of Labour Courts. The meeting was co-chaired by Hon’ble Shri Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Executive Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, and Hon’ble Shri Justice Parth Prateem Sahu, Chairman of the High Court Legal Services Committee in Bilaspur.
During the virtual meeting, the Chief Justice reviewed the progress made in identifying cases for the upcoming National Lok Adalat, following a prior meeting held on May 5, 2025. He emphasized that all judicial officers should make special efforts to identify and resolve as many old pending civil and criminal compoundable cases as possible, particularly those concerning women, senior citizens, cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and motor accident claims.
The Chief Justice urged judicial officers to encourage litigants to settle their disputes in the upcoming National Lok Adalat, positioning it as an effective and efficient alternative to traditional litigation. According to instructions from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in New Delhi, the National Lok Adalat will be organized on May 10, 2025, across all courts, including High Courts, District Courts, Tehsil Courts, Family Courts, Forums, and Tribunals, as well as all Revenue Courts. The agenda includes addressing civil and criminal compoundable cases and other matters.
As of May 9, 2025, a total of 3,485,042 cases have been identified for resolution, including 3,393,125 pre-litigation cases and 91,917 pending cases. Efforts are being made to facilitate compromises between the parties involved.
In Delhi, National Lok Adalat sessions will take place in various court complexes, including Dwarka, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Rohini, Rouse Avenue, Saket, and Tis Hazari, from 10 AM to 4 PM on May 10, 2025. The upcoming Lok Adalat is expected to clear up to 180,000 traffic challans and notices, focusing on compoundable challans and notices issued up to January 31, 2025. For private vehicles, a total of seven notices and challans will be accepted, while commercial vehicles will be limited to two notices and challans.
Himanshu Gupta, Founder and CEO of Lawyered, shared a case from Gurgaon where an individual faced a Rs 10,000 fine for drinking and driving but managed to have the penalty waived through the Lok Adalat. Similarly, Fazl Askari, a Senior Associate at PSL Advocates & Solicitors, recounted a case where he was penalized Rs 20,000 for violating GRAP-IV norms but successfully argued that his vehicle, categorized as a mild hybrid, did not fall under the applicable regulations.
In another instance, Vipul Wadhwa, Partner at Singhania & Co., highlighted a 2023 motor vehicle accident case in Punjab that was resolved in a single day through the National Lok Adalat, allowing a family to secure Rs 25 lakh in compensation swiftly, which could have taken years in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.
Moreover, a significant property dispute in Juhu, Mumbai, valued at over Rs 75 crore, was resolved in a previous National Lok Adalat. Advocate V K Dubey explained that four parties had been entangled in a legal dispute over the property for two decades. The final awardee successfully proved that the documents presented by the other claimants were forged, leading to a swift resolution.
In Jaipur, two brothers involved in a 12-year-old property dispute opted for a Lok Adalat session, saving nearly Rs 30 lakh in pending litigation costs. They left with a signed partition agreement, demonstrating how Lok Adalats can make justice accessible, especially in cases where litigation costs would outweigh the outcome.
It is essential to note that rulings delivered by Lok Adalats are final and binding. Advocate Gaeti Khan emphasized that the award passed by a Lok Adalat is equivalent to a decree from a Civil Court, and no appeal can be made against such an award. Challenges to Lok Adalat decisions can only be made under exceptional circumstances, such as fraud or misrepresentation, as explained by Arman Roop Sharma, Partner at Anand Sharma & Associates.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the second National Lok Adalat scheduled for May 10, 2025, has been postponed due to current circumstances, as directed by the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority.
Meanwhile, a National Lok Adalat is set to take place in Raipur on May 10, 2025, where cases pending for years will be resolved in one day. The District Legal Services Authority is organizing this event at the District and Sessions Court, addressing claims, family disputes, labor issues, bank matters, check bounces, and more. This is the second Lok Adalat of the year, and citizens can obtain information by calling the NALSA helpline at 15100. The Lok Adalat will operate from 10 AM to 4 PM, providing an opportunity for parties to settle disputes amicably without the burden of lengthy litigation.
In Jharkhand, the National Lok Adalat will be inaugurated virtually from Lohardaga, with Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad of the Jharkhand High Court presiding over the event, which is set to begin at 10:30 AM. A total of 20 stalls will be set up near Maidana to provide various services, including those from the Education, Social Welfare, and Health Departments.
The National Lok Adalat is a significant initiative aimed at reducing the backlog of cases in Indian courts, providing a platform for amicable dispute resolution, and ensuring that justice is accessible to all citizens.
