Acting on the directives of the National Legal Services Authority and the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, a National Lok Adalat (People’s Court) was organized in the district today (May 9). The event was held under the supervision of District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson of the District Legal Services Authority, Harpreet Kaur Randhawa. A massive crowd of litigants began gathering early in the morning across the sub-divisions of Jagraon, Samrala, Khanna, and Payal, in addition to the Ludhiana headquarters.
Today’s Lok Adalat in Figures
Total Benches: 58 (48 at the district headquarters and 10 in the sub-divisions).
Cases Taken Up: Approximately 115,000 matters.
Target: Settlement of approximately 110,000 cases expected by evening.
Pending Cases: Over 125,000 cases related to check bouncing (Section 138) alone are currently pending.
Finality of Litigation: Litigation is resolved at the very root; there is neither scope for appeal nor further argument.
Litigation Ends at the Root
Addressing the media, District and Sessions Judge Harpreet Kaur Randhawa stated that the greatest advantage of the Lok Adalat is that no appeal can be filed against the decisions reached here. When two parties arrive at a mutual settlement through consensus in the Lok Adalat, the litigation is resolved permanently. This not only saves time but also brings mental peace to the parties involved.
Special Court to be Held for Check Bouncing Cases
The Judge noted that the volume of cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act (Section 138) is exceptionally high in Ludhiana. In light of this, future plans were also shared: on July 18, 2026, a special Lok Adalat will be convened exclusively for cases involving check bouncing (Section 138, NI Act). Subsequently, the next major National Lok Adalat will be organized on September 12, 2026, which will cover cases across all categories.
The Lok Adalat primarily adjudicated matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases, civil matters, and compoundable criminal cases. Lawyers from the Bar Association also extended their full cooperation to this initiative, ensuring that the general public could receive speedy justice.