National Lok Adalat in Chandigarh Disposes Over 19,000 Cases; Settlements Cross ₹14.25 Crore

Under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority and able guidance of the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu, the Chief Justice-cum-Patron-in-Chief, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh, the National Lok Adalat was organized on 09.05.2026 in District Court Complex, Sector-43, Chandigarh by the State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh and District Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh.

Thirteen (13) benches headed by the serving Judicial Officers were constituted in the District Courts, Sector-43, Chandigarh. Criminal Compoundable cases, cases under Section 138 of N.I. Act, Bank Recovery cases, MACT Cases, Matrimonial Disputes, Labour Disputes, Arbitration matters, other Civil Cases, Municipal Matters and Traffic Challans were taken up and disposed of with the consent of the parties.

In the National Lok Adalat, more than 19,004 cases were disposed of by the benches of serving Judicial Officers constituted in New District Courts Complex, Sector-43, Chandigarh, which include pre-litigative cases, pending cases and traffic challans. In the abovesaid cases, total amount of Rs. 14,25,45,851/- was settled.

Total 10,595 pre-litigative cases involving amount of Rs. 6,95,238/- were disposed of by the regular benches and Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS), 17 Labour Dispute Cases involving amount of Rs. 20,01,292/- were disposed of by the Labour Court, 63 cases were disposed of by State & District Consumer Commissions, Chandigarh involving amount of Rs. 5,46,79,842/-, 26 cases were disposed of by DRT-II, Chandigarh involving amount of Rs. 9,71,48,285/- and total 2102 mutations were disposed of by Tehsildar (Revenue), U.T., Chandigarh.

In a matrimonial dispute pending before the bench of Sh. Puneet Mohan Sharma, Ld. Additional District & Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, U.T. Chandigarh made efforts for permanent solution. A long session was spent with the parties. It was observed by the Hon’ble Lordship that welfare of the minor child is the paramount consideration, as the child is the biggest sufferer in matrimonial disputes of parents. The parties sought some time for amicable settlement.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi also interacted with the public while sitting among them. He asserted that people should not hesitate to share their actual problems with Judges. He further stated that Judges should behave like common persons while sitting in the Lok Adalat.

Four cases were settled with the efforts of the National Lok Adalat in which the parties reconciled their differences and decided to live together. One case, pending for more than 10 years, was also disposed of in the National Lok Adalat.

Originating from Gandhian principles, Lok Adalat has become a major helping hand to courts and has largely succeeded in providing a supplementary forum to litigants for determination and settlement of disputes.

H.S.Grewal Learned District & Sessions-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authoirty, Arun Kumar Aggarwal, Ld. Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh and Sunil Kumar, Secretary, District Legal Service Authority, Chandigarh thanked for making this Lok Adalat a success and further appealed to resolve their disputes through the Lok Adalats as it provides quick and economical justice.