Agra lok adalat settles a record 77,595 cases

The National Lok Adalat held at the civil courts complex here Saturday disposed of a record 77,595 cases. Another thousand- odd cases were being processed till late in the evening.

Family court judge Sudeep Bannerji brought 40 couples together settling their disputes, while the chief judicial magistrate's court disposed of 11,386 cases. Banks were able to settle 1,126 cases and mobile companies 473.

Revenue in the form of penalties totalled more than Rs.15 crore.

District judge Vijay Pratap Singh cleared more than 65 accident cases.

"It was history. People volunteered on their own to resolve long pending disputes. The pressure of pending cases in our courts will definitely come down if periodic Lok Adalats are held," a law official said.

However, there were dissenting views too. Vivek Sarabhoy, a senior lawyer, said: "The whole legal system has to be made more accountable and efficient. Such a fire-fighting approach will not help. Most cases being disposed of today are not important."