Aarohi Girish Dhumale
A Special Lok Adalat was held across Gujarat by the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority under the guidance of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Biren Vaishnav. The focus was on longstanding cases related to cheque dishonor and matrimonial disputes, excluding divorce cases. During this event, approximately 50,000 cases were addressed, including 6,770 complaints under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act concerning cheque returns, and 1,096 matrimonial cases that were resolved. A total of Rs. 161.19 crore in awards was granted.
In a press release dated October 26, 2024, it was stated that “The Chief Justice has decided to organize special Lok Adalats for specific categories of cases, and the response has been remarkable. The structure of these special Lok Adalats involves a conciliation bench made up of one judicial officer and one trained mediator, who work together to facilitate resolution between the parties.”
The press release also highlighted that “All associated with the justice delivery system have appreciated the active measures taken by Hon’ble the Chief Justice.” Many business owners expressed their satisfaction that, thanks to the Lok Adalat, “their old debt could promptly be recovered prior to Diwali.”