Set up in mid-1980s as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forum, the lok Adalat seems to be losing its importance and is unlikely to deliver the desired results if the trend continues. Out of 562 cases listed for adjudication at the National lok Adalat here in the Orissa High Court on Saturday, only 84 (less than 15 per cent) of them were disposed of by six courts on the day.
Organised under the aegis of the Odisha legal Aid Services Authority, Justices PK Mohanty, DP Choudhury, AK Rath, Biswajit Mohanty, Biswanath Rath, SK Sahoo and SN Prasad of the HC presided over the courts.
Out of 562 bank cases listed under the Sarfaesi Act, only 47 cases were settled at the lok Adalat. Similarly, 33 out of 124 Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) cases were settled in which Rs 97.18 lakh was awarded as damage to the claimants.
Sources further said that only four of the 60 cases registered under the Negotiable Instrument Act were disposed of, but none of the 17 matrimonial cases listed could be settled, smacking doubt whether lok Adalat would lessen the burden of pending cases in traditional courts.
legal experts here believe that lack of ‘compromising spirit’ among the dissenting parties, rigid attitude of banks and financial institutions and the habit of fighting shy by the burrowers are the main reasons for the lacklustre outcome of lok Adalats. “The litigant people are also not properly guided by to settle their cases in lok Adalats,” said experts.