Justice in Hours, Not Years – Patiala National Lok Adalat Settles Over ₹42 Crore Worth of Cases
Patiala, 14 March
Under the able guidance of Avtar Singh, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala, a National Lok Adalat covering all types of cases (except non-compoundable criminal cases) was successfully organized in District Patiala on March 14, 2026.
A total of 37 Lok Adalat benches were constituted across the district:
- 19 in Patiala
- 06 in Rajpura
- 05 in Nabha
- 05 in Samana
Additionally:
- 01 bench was set up in the Revenue Court of District Patiala to facilitate the maximum possible settlement of cases related to mutation, partition, and similar revenue matters.
- 01 dedicated bench was established at the Women Cell, Patiala, to resolve matrimonial disputes through mutual settlement before formal registration of cases.
During the National Lok Adalat, 40,064 cases across various categories were taken up, out of which 29,684 cases were amicably settled through mutual compromise, involving a total settlement amount of ₹42,16,60,109 (over ₹42.16 crore).
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Avtar Singh, District & Sessions Judge, Patiala, along with Manni Arora, Incharge Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala, and Ekta Sahota, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala, actively visited the benches and motivated the parties to resolve their disputes amicably.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Avtar Singh highlighted the key benefits of Lok Adalats:
- Decisions made in Lok Adalat are final and not appealable.
- Any court fees previously paid by the parties are refunded.
- Disputes are resolved quickly on mutually agreed terms, saving time, money, and reducing personal animosity between the parties.
The primary objective of Lok Adalats is to promote compromise and amicable settlements, leading to harmonious and cost-effective resolutions for all involved.
A major highlight of this National Lok Adalat was the successful settlement of:
- 323 family dispute cases pending before the Family Courts, and
- 261 cheque bounce cases involving a total amount of ₹9,07,24,907 (over ₹9.07 crore).
The event demonstrated the effectiveness of the Lok Adalat mechanism in providing speedy, affordable, and satisfactory justice to the people of Patiala district.
