Bhatkal: A total of 5,313 cases were settled through compromise across Uttara Kannada district, including 1,402 cases in Bhatkal, during the National Lok Adalat held on Saturday.

The Lok Adalat was organised under the aegis of the District Legal Services Authority along with various Taluk Legal Services Committees across the district. Proceedings were conducted through 23 benches set up at different courts in Uttara Kannada.

According to official information, the Lok Adalat took up over 1.12 lakh cases, including pre-litigation disputes and cases pending before courts. Settlements relating to loan repayments, compensation, penalties and other financial disputes resulted in payments amounting to Rs 34.79 crore.

Among the matters resolved were bank-related disputes, compoundable criminal cases, electricity and property tax dues, water charges, cheque bounce cases, matrimonial disputes, motor accident compensation claims, and other civil and criminal matters.

Officials said the Lok Adalat also witnessed positive developments in certain family disputes, where couples agreed to reconcile and resume their marital life after mediation. Several maintenance-related cases were also settled amicably.

Senior Civil Judge and Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, Divyashree C.M., congratulated all stakeholders for their cooperation in facilitating the settlement of a large number of cases during the National Lok Adalat.

1,402 cases settled in Bhatkal
In Bhatkal, Lok Adalat proceedings were held at the Bhatkal JMFC Court, where three separate benches functioned in different halls to take up cases. Altogether 1,402 cases were settled through compromise during the proceedings.

At the Additional Civil Judge’s bench presided over by Dhanavati, 575 cases were settled out of 625 cases, involving settlement amounts of Rs 2,26,60,875.

At another bench presided over by Senior Civil Judge Kantha Kurane, 280 cases were settled out of 303 cases taken up, involving settlement amounts of Rs 1,99,86,153.

At the bench headed by Principal Civil Judge Deepa Aralagundi, 547 cases were settled out of 598 cases, involving Rs 2,17,98,566.

Advocates Shabina, Shravya Naik and Sahana Moger served as mediators during the proceedings.