BALASORE: The coastal district of Balasore has set an example in the State by
disposing of 10,848 cases including civil, criminal, matrimonial and motor accident claims in a year through Lok Adalats.
Sources said as many as 26 Lok Adalats were organised last year to dispose of 713 civil, 9,629 criminal, 141 Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act, 120 matrimonial and 245 Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) cases.
In fact, Balasore was the first district to organise a State-level Lok Adalat last year for disposal of cases pertaining to marital disputes.
Besides, six district-level Lok Adalats, one mobile van Lok Adalat and six taluk-level Lok Adalats in each outlying stations of Soro, Nilagiri and Jaleswar were also organised under this legal aid movement.
While the district registered an all-time high of awarding Rs 3,56,84,414 as compensation following settlement in 201 motor accident claim cases, the mobile Lok Adalat, a new initiative, also disposed of nearly 80 cases including 70 criminal, eight civil and two MACT cases.
Giving credit to Executive Chairman of State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) Justice Bimal Prasad Das and Portfolio judge of Balasore judgeship Justice S C Parija for the success of the Lok Adalats, Balasore District Judge and Chairman of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) S K Pattnaik said the motto was to provide quick justice to distressed litigants.
“We have been successful in disposing of thousands of cases for the timely efforts of court staff, judicial officers and lawyers. We also organised 24 legal awareness camps in 10 blocks and formed student literacy clubs in 37 high schools. In the process, 50 volunteers have been trained who are working as Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) across the district,” he added.