MANGALORE: The Lok Adalat organized by the Dakshina Kannada District Legal Services Authority has helped settle 3,126 cases in the first five months of the calendar year in as many as 282 sittings.
The Lok Adalat handed down Rs 46.98 lakh as compensation in 53 motor vehicles cases (MVC)- eight in Puttur taluk and 45 in Mangalore taluk.
While Rs 6.21 lakh was awarded in MVC reported in Puttur, the rest was awarded in Mangalore.
Out of the 3,126 cases that the adalat heard, 2,834 were criminal cases, 239 civil cases, and 53 motor vehicle cases. Out of the 2,834 criminal cases, 591 were cases under Negotiable Instruments Act, 410 compoundable criminal cases, and 1820 other criminal cases. The adalat also handled one matrimonial case and 12 pertaining to maintenance issues, the district and sessions judge Choudapurkar Arun, also chairman of the authority said.
Flagging off a three-day legal literacy chariot and ‘janata nyayalaya’ campaign at the district court premises on Monday, he said the aim of the campaign is to encourage settlement of pre-litigation cases (PLC). The adalat in 633 sittings held in 2012 had settled 5,785 cases and handed down Rs 92.35-lakh as compensation in MVC and Rs 1,84,376 in land-related issues and 29 PLCs.
The authority has organized maximum number of adalats in Mangalore in the past 17 months from January 2013 to May 31 this year, he said, adding that 204 out of 282 sittings in 2013 and 365 out of 633 sittings in 2012 were held in the taluk.
The taluk legal services committee in 2012 held 41 sittings in Sullia (8 from January 1 to May 31 this year), 51 in Puttur (30 this year), 97 in Bantwal (27 this year) and 79 in Belthangady (13 this year).
In addition, the district legal services authority organized 165 legal literacy camps from January 1 to December 31, 2012. While the authority organized 24 camps in Mangalore taluk, the committees Sullia, Puttur, Bantwal and Belthangady taluks conducted 40, 31, 29 and 41 camps.
The campaign ends on Wednesday with Lok Adalat on insurance matters.
