MANGALORE: An initiative taken by H.M. Bharathesh, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Dakshina Kannada to promote alternative dispute resolution system is expected to provide the much-needed relief to the public. Taking a cue from the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Mr. Bharathesh has laid stress on organising Lok Adalats at the district courts here for expeditious disposal of cases.

Mr. Bharathesh told The Hindu here that the maximum number of cases pending related to motor vehicle claims, land acquisition and family disputes. Noting that these cases did not involve interpretation of any difficult points of law, Mr. Bharathesh said these could be ideally settled in Lok Adalats. "This system provides quick relief to the litigants and most importantly is inexpensive," he said.

While cases such as murder did not come under the purview of the Lok Adalats, the other cases such as accident claims, property disputes were best settled across the table, he said. "I have been actively encouraging the litigants involved in such cases to go to these Lok Adalats, which are being held every Saturday and have them resolved," he added.

Noting that the Lok Adalat was giving priority to old cases, he said some of them filed in 1999 were still awaiting a final resolution. Besides, steps had been taken to set up suitable infrastructure to set up a permanent Lok Adalat in Dakshina Kannada, which was one among the six districts where such a set up would come up. The cabinet had cleared a proposal to appoint retired district and sessions court judge to head this, he said.

Campaign launched

On Saturday, the Karnataka High Court under the leadership of Cyriac Joseph, Chief Justice in the presence of V. Gopal Gowda, working president of the authority launched a state-wide campaign to organise `Janata Nyayalayas' for expeditious disposal of cases in their respective jurisdiction as part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations. The campaign will be held in all courts up to October 31.

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