From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 6: A total of 10,99,938 cases comprising 2,23,206 pending cases and 8,76,732 pre-litigation cases were settled in the National Lok Adalat in the State.

The disposal of the large number of pending cases has resulted in reduction of pendency by 18 % in Karnataka.

In the National Lok Adalat, all types of matters including compoundable criminal cases, civil suits, revenue matters, railway claims, motor vehicles accident claims, bank loans recovery, electricity and water disputes, both in the nature of pending and pre-litigation cases were taken for disposal.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala inaugurated the National Lok Adalat in the Karnataka High Court on Saturday.

Stressing the need for encouraging speedy settlement of cases, the Governor said the early settlement of cases would help in restoring relationship between the parties and lead to fostering happy society.

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice D H Waghela, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority,presided over the function and said the legal services institution across the State have relentlessly worked and have been working to bring out more settlement of cases and the figures demonstrate the efforts put by the judicial officers in convincing the litigating parties.

The Chief Justice thanked and congratulated the State Government and its officials in adopting positive attitude and settling lakhs of cases before they go to the Courts.

State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra felt Lok Adalats have acted as an important alternative dispute resolution mechanism to counter the docket explosion in the courts.

Justice N K Patil, High Court Judge and Executive Chairman, Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, in his key note address,described the steps taken by Karnataka State Legal Services Authority for giving wide publicity for the benefit of the litigant public and appreciated the efforts of the judicial officers across the State in devoting more time for the success of the Lok Adalat.

Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, Judge, High Court of Karnataka and Member of NALSA, welcomed the gathering. Justice L NaranayaSwamy, Judge High Court of Karnataka and Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, proposed vote of thanks. Prof Ravi Varma Kumar, Advocate General, Karnataka Bar Council Chairman P P Hegde and H C Shivaramu, President of Advocates Association, Bengaluru, were the guests of honour.