Gondia national Lok Adalat settles 17,585 cases, recovers Rs 8.57 crore

A national Lok Adalat was held in Gondia district on September 12, 2026, settling thousands of cases pending in courts for years through conciliation and mutual settlement. The Lok Adalat was organised on the directions of the National Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court, New Delhi, and the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, High Court, Mumbai. The District Legal Services Authority, Gondia, along with all taluka legal services committees in the district, also held Lok Adalats in taluka courts.

The Lok Adalat was inaugurated by District Judge-2 M.T. Aseem. After the inauguration, he spoke to those present about the benefits and importance of the Lok Adalat. N.K. Walke, secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, and S.R. Borkar, president of the Gondia District Bar Association, also appealed to people to settle as many cases as possible through conciliation.

Of the 5,563 pending court cases taken up at this Lok Adalat, 1,124 cases were settled through conciliation, recovering Rs 5,78,59,482. In addition, 16,461 of 71,568 pre-litigation cases were settled, recovering Rs 2,79,22,335. In all, 17,585 cases were successfully settled with a total recovery of Rs 8,57,81,817.

Under a special drive, 228 criminal cases in the district's courts were taken up, of which 167 were settled, sparing the parties concerned the mental and financial strain of prolonged court proceedings. Several parties expressed satisfaction at having their cases settled through conciliation.

A notable feature of this Lok Adalat was that in pre-litigation cases related to Mahavitaran, electricity, water, telephone and bank recovery dues, parties deposited the outstanding amounts with the concerned departments as per settlement, after which their cases were permanently closed. This spared both the departments and the defaulters further court expenses and mental stress.

Two motor accident claims pending in District Court-1, Gondia, were also settled through conciliation at this Lok Adalat. Two cheques totalling Rs 25 lakh and Rs 24.25 lakh, amounting to Rs 49.25 lakh in compensation, were handed to the applicants by Justice M.W. Chandwani of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court and guardian judge for Gondia district, in the presence of R.G. Waghmare, president of the District Legal Services Authority and Principal District and Sessions Judge. District Judge-2 M.T. Aseem, District Judge-4 A.C. Khurana, head of panel number 1, and N.K. Walke, secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, were also present.

A case pending before the motor accident authority involving an elderly citizen with a disability was also placed for conciliation at this Lok Adalat. As the elderly man could not come to the courtroom due to his age and disability, A.C. Khurana, District Judge-4 and head of panel number 1, and panel member advocate Chandan Wankhede went to his vehicle in the court premises to speak with him. The case was then permanently settled through conciliation, becoming an important example of the Lok Adalat delivering justice to ordinary people with ease.

A matrimonial pre-litigation case filed with the District Legal Services Authority, Gondia, was also successfully settled through the Lok Adalat. The case was resolved with the consent of both parties, and the applicant went to live with her daughter at her in-laws' home. The Lok Adalat thus helped not only resolve legal disputes but also bring about reconciliation within families.

The large number of cases settled through conciliation at this national Lok Adalat saved citizens time, money and mental strain, and the district saw a good response to the goal of delivering easy and speedy justice. Court staff put in considerable effort for the successful conduct of this Lok Adalat.