Lok Adalat an effective ADR mechanism: SC Judge

Devakottai, Tamil Nadu, July 31 (UNI) Lok Adalats remain an effective Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR) mechanism in the country in the context of mounting pendency of cases in various courts, Justice A R Lakshmanan of the Supreme Court said.

Inaugurating a 'Lok Adalat' here for Sivaganga district the judge said Tamil Nadu was also a state facing the problem of huge pendency, which was rising.

In his reasoning, population explosion was one of the prime factors for the ever-increasing pendency. However, people continuing to flock to the courts, in spite of this shortfall, was proof enough that the judiciary remained their last resort to avail justice.

He said besides himself, 12 judges of Madras High Court, including its Chief Justice A P Shah, have come to this town to help expedite justice to the litigant public.

Though the inauguration was held up by an hour, judicial officers of the nine courts would stay till the proceedings of the 3000 and odd cases were completed, he added.

Justice A P Shah in his brief address said 'Lok Adalat' was an instrument for bringing reconciliation, which was emphasised by Mahatma Gandhi as the true service of those engaged in the legal profession. Further, it was yet another form of ADR, which was gaining wider acceptance as it was cost effective.

Stating that pendency in various courts in the country has gone up to 1.75 crore, he said most of them were criminal cases.

Likening 'Lok Adalats' to traditional lamps with which many more lamps could be lit, he said this provided an opportunity to unite the warring parties.

On the occasion, Justice Lakshmanan handed over the verdict of two cases of which one pertained to a decade-old dispute over a temple at Sithanur village near this town. With both the parties to the dispute agreeing to make the temple common to the entire village, the case was disposed of, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Tamil Nadu HR and CE Minister K R Periyakaruppan, responding to the plea of the bar, assured that he would talk with state Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the issue of an integrated court complex for the district with adequate infrastructure facilities.

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