Bhatkal: A Mega Lok Adalat will be held on December 13 at the Bhatkal Court Complex under the joint initiative of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority and the Taluk Legal Services Committee. Senior Civil Judge and Chairman of the Taluk Legal Services Committee, Kanta Korani, has urged litigants to participate in the proceedings and make full use of the opportunity to resolve their pending cases amicably.
Addressing a press conference in the court premises, Judge Korani said that the upcoming Lok Adalat provides an opportunity for the settlement of civil as well as criminal cases that are fit for compromise. A total of 2,116 cases from three different courts have already been identified for disposal in the Lok Adalat. He added that additional cases that qualify for compromise can also be brought forward either through advocates or directly through the Legal Services Committee.
He informed that a wide range of matters will be taken up in the Lok Adalat, including cases under the Indian Penal Code that are compoundable, cheque bounce cases, bank loan recovery disputes, Motor Vehicles Act violation cases, land acquisition matters, execution petitions, motor accident claim cases, birth registration matters and several other cases that are legally permissible for settlement. Litigants have been advised to contact the Legal Services Committee office located within the court premises for further assistance.
Judge Korani further stated that the government has announced a fifty per cent rebate on fines imposed in traffic violation cases pending under the Motor Vehicles Act. Individuals with outstanding fines may clear them on or before December 12 to avail this concession, which is valid from November 21 to December 12 only.
He clarified that the decisions made in the Lok Adalat with mutual consent of the parties are final and cannot be appealed, and that the court fee paid earlier will be refunded, making the process financially beneficial for litigants. He added that settlements through Lok Adalats help reduce the burden on regular courts, bring an end to repeated court visits, and promote harmony by resolving disputes amicably.
Present at the press conference were Deepa Aralagundi, Secretary of the Legal Services Committee and Principal Civil Judge, and Additional Judge Dhanavathi.