2nd National Lok-Adalat Conducted In Telangana

National Lok Adalat was organized on 14.06.2025 throughout the State of Telangana, for settlement of pending cases and pre-litigation cases of various categories, including Consumer disputes.

Under the leadership of Justice Sujoy Paul, the Acting Chief Justice of High Court for the State of Telangana & Executive Chairman, Telangana State Legal Services Authority, and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, Telangana State Legal Services Authority has co-ordinated with all Prl.District Judges-cum-Chairpersons, District Legal Services Authorities in the State, other Stake Holders and High Court Legal Services Committee at High Court level organized the National Lok Adalat on 14.06.2025.

In this National Lok-adalat, to record settlements, total 319 Lok Adalat Benches were constituted for attending the compromise cases across the State of Telangana. 315 Lok Adalat Benches are constituted in the Judicial Districts and 2 Lok Adalat Benches are constituted in the High Court for the State of Telangana. 2 Lok Adalat Benches are constituted at Debt Recovery Tribunals, Hyderabad.

This time, the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, Hyderabad have taken an initiative to dispose of Cases filed under the Negotiable Instrument Act (Cheque Dishonour Cases) as a special Lok Adalt for Cheque Dishonour Cases. The member Secretary, TSLSA, Hyderabad had organized pre Lok Adalt sittings with all the authorized persons of bank and financial institutions seeking their cooperation to dispose of en-number of Cheque Dishonour Cases. Even the Secretaries of DLSAs have also organized the pre Lok Adalt sittings with all the stake holders for organising this National Lok Adalt and decreasing the pendency in courts to render speedy justice to the litigants.

The Justice Sujoy Paul, the Acting Chief Justice of High Court for the State of Telangana, Patron-in-Chief & Executive Chairman, Telangana State Legal Services Authority, inaugurated the National Lok Adalat at City Civil Court, Secunderabad of Telangana State and handed over the awards passed in the Lok Adalat to the litigants who have settled their respective cases in Lok Adalat.

In the inaugural session, Justice S. Sashidhar Reddy, Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad, addressed the participants. Justice Sujoy Paul, the Acting Chief Justice of High Court for the State of Telangana & Executive Chairman, Telangana State Legal Services Authority, Hyderabad, addressed the litigant public and other participants in the inauguration. Justice Sujoy Paul said that “Lok Adalat is an oldest system and Lok Adalats are being conducted periodically. The cases which are pending before the court are being settled in the Lok Adalat. In the Lok Adalat both parties are at a win win situation.”

This Lok Adalat not only saves the valuable time of the courts but also develops the good will, friendship and cordial relationship between parties. In courts, if a case is decided in favour of one party, the party who looses his case, thinks to prefer an appeal to higher courts against that Judgment. Hence with an intention to put an end to a litigation, Lok Adalat system was introduced, so that many cases are disposed off amicably.

Justice Sujoy Paul, further addressed the participants about the community mediation which was launched in Telangana. He mentioned that there is a system of mediation which is an old concept. There is a court annexed mediation, in which there is a trained mediator. The trained mediator may be an advocate, Judge and other professional person, who mediate the cases. There are some issues with the court annexed mediation. So, first time in Kerala State, Kerala State Legal Services Authority, started community mediation by involving the elderly people to resolve the disputes. 

Community Mediation system was introduced in Indore, Madhya Pradesh while Justice Paul was heading the Indore bench. There now every community opened their own community mediation centres after knowing about the process of the community mediation which resolves the dispute amicably. The matrimonial disputes, disputes between parents and children etc., are being resolved in those community mediation centres before reaching courts. There in Indore, one Collector allotted one room for opening of a community mediation centre for community mediation, with that inspiration, A community mediation was started in Telangana in Nizamabad and Kamareddy of Telangana, and the mediators were trained. In 9 districts community mediation was started and centres were established. Some good results have been achieved in these community mediation centres. In 2 districts volunteers are ready to undergo training in mediation. These community mediation centers are becoming a game changer, in matrimonial, property disputes and senior citizen issues. Where there is an emotional issue and ego clashes than legal issues are involved.

The matrimonial matters which come before courts have already become very hard/strained. Resolving those matters would be very difficult. If they are resolved/settled at the initial stage itself, cordial relationship will be emerge.

The matrimonial disputes are there in every family. The statistics which are getting from Kamareddy and Nizamabad shows that many matrimonial matters are being solved at initial stage itself. The community mediation centres are being opened in the 9 districts by the Community Elders, where training was imparted to the community elders.

“In most of the cases, which come before courts, there is no serious legal issues involved, can be solved through the mediation and Lok Adalats and hope that you all will co-operate in this Lok Adalat”. By greeting all the participants, Justice Sujoy Paul, Judge, ended his message.

Landmark Settlement achieved in this National Lok Adalat was recorded in District Legal Services Authority Kamareddy on June 14, 2025, a high-value motor accident claim as amicably settled by awarding an amount of Rs. 1.40 Crores (Rs. 14 million) to the family members of a police constable who lost his life in a motor accident. The settlement of this case at Rs. 1.40 crores is a milestone in the history of the District Legal Services Authority, Kamareddy.

A total number of 14,52,268 cases viz.- 5,93,898 Pre-litigation cases and 8,58,370 pending Court Cases of various categories were settled in all the districts of Telangana State & at High Court. Also an amount of Rs.935 Crores was awarded as compensation to the beneficiaries in the settled cases.