Lok Adalat is being held regularly on all sitting days of the HC for more than 5 years now. Every week day, after court hours the HC Lok-Adalat (LA) Bench sits for two hours with a HC judge as presiding officer and a senior advocate as conciliator who persuade parties towards a fair settlement.

About 15 cases are listed before each LA sitting, out of which on an average, about 4 or 5 cases are settled. With 20 sittings in a month, LA Bench’s monthly disposals numbered 80 to 90 cases. On January 28, 2008, the HCLSC set up another similar LA Bench to increase disposals.

A total of 40 LA Benches - two Benches each on 20 working days - worked during this February, settling 189 cases in all. In these cases, Rs 1.44 crore compensation was enhanced in favour of claimants, while Rs 15.57 lakh excess compensation awarded was deducted.

HCLSC Executive Chairman Justice K L Manjunath, said: “Most of these cases are first appeals in accident compensation claims disputes, where liability to pay is admitted by the insurer. But, quantum of compensation payable is under dispute, with claimants seeking enhancement and companies bargaining to reduce it. If parties wish early settlement, such cases are referred to LA where we try to balance and make an equitable award.”

Early disposal

He explained: “About 15,000 accident claims appeals are filed every year before the HC and presently about 30,000 appeals are pending. But, in courts, everyday, a maximum of 5 to 10 cases can be disposed by a judge.

LA supplements the disposal rate and early disposal result in  insurance companies saving interest on long period of litigation, while claimants get money when they are in need.”

As of now, 400 cases are pending before the HC LA, and attempts are on to identify and take up more cases.

“The working of two Benches is gearing up. Claimant advocates and officers of KSRTC and insurance companies are cooperating. We hope to achieve more results.”

The HCLSC has also facilitated speedy disbursement. Earlier, six weeks’ time was being given for drawing the Awards which were later sent to companies for making payments, now a joint memo of settlement is got signed by the claimant and insurance company; And insurance companies have started depositing compensation amounts on the basis of such memo itself. The process concludes within just 15 days of settlement.

Litigants or their counsels can move respective courts for reference to Lok-Adalat or approach HCLSC directly.