Lok Adalats in Odisha getting popular

Last Updated: Thursday, January 05, 2012, 16:41

Cuttack: 'Lok Adalats' in Odisha are becoming more popular as people are getting prompt justice with this alternative justice delivery system.

According to statistics available from Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) nearly 2.3 lakh cases were disposed off at 3682 Lok Adalats held throughout the state in the year 2011.

What was encouraging from the annual statistics released by OSLSA is that over one lakh criminal cases were disposed off in the year through the Lok Adalats.

Similarly, the statistics also reveal that another one lakh cases pertaining to revenue matters were disposed off in the same period, which in itself is a record in the history of Lok Adalats which came into existence in 1997.

Sources said the most important aspect of Lok Adalats in Odisha was that it offers the aggrieved claimant the possibility of immediate compensation which otherwise would have taken decades to be settled in regular courts.

A total number of 3086 motor accident claim tribunal (MACT) cases were disposed off in 2011 in which a whopping amount of over Rs 43 crore were awarded as compensations to the claimants.

Interestingly, the Lok Adalats also awarded compensations to the tune of over Rs four crore to different litigants in the criminal cases as well.

PTI

First Published: Thursday, January 05, 2012, 16:41