Set up around three decades ago as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the lok Adalat system seems to be losing its sheen and there are very few takers for this facility to get rid of their pending litigations.
Out of 618 various types of cases listed for disposal at the National lok Adalat here on Saturday, only 77 (about 12%) cases were disposed of by seven judges of the Orissa High Court.
Organised under the Odisha legal Aid Services Authority, Acting Chief Justice Pradeep K Mohanty and Justices AK Rath, Biswajit Mohanty, BR Sarangi, SK Sahoo, SN Prasad and KR Mohapatra presided over the courts to decide 263 MACT cases, 194 bank and insurance cases, 50 matrimonial and 111 NI Act cases.
While none of the listed matrimonial and NI Act cases could be settled, the lok Adalat settled only 46 MACT and 31 bank and insurance cases in which `1.01 crore was awarded as damages to different claimants in MACT cases.
During last lok Adalat also, only 84 cases were settled out of 618 listed.