SRINAGAR: More than 23,000 cases were settled across Jammu and Kashmir during the third National Lok Adalat of 2026, with settlements and compensation amounting to over ₹176 crore, officials said on Saturday.
Organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA), the Lok Adalat was conducted through 163 benches across the Union Territory. A total of 32,908 cases were taken up during the day-long exercise, of which 23,213 were amicably settled, involving settlements and compensation worth ₹176.22 crore.
The Lok Adalat was inaugurated at the District Court Complex, Srinagar, by Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, who is also Patron-in-Chief of the JKLSA. Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman of the JKLSA, was also present.
The matters taken up included Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) cases, matrimonial disputes, cheque dishonour cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery and commercial disputes, labour matters, electricity and water bill disputes, land acquisition cases, family disputes, bank recovery matters and compoundable criminal offences.
In Srinagar district alone, 11 benches constituted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) took up 9,888 cases, of which 9,394 were settled. The total settlement amount awarded in Srinagar stood at ₹111.14 crore, accounting for a substantial share of the UT-wide settlement figure.
One of the Srinagar benches dealing with MACT cases took up 85 matters and settled 33 of them, awarding compensation of ₹6.72 crore. Cheques worth ₹3.42 crore were distributed on the spot among claimants by the Chief Justice and other judicial officers.
Another bench, presided over by Municipal Magistrate Srinagar Fida Hussain Nayak and Sub-Judge Srinagar Junaid Imtiyaz Mir, settled 19 of 63 cases and awarded settlements amounting to ₹101.24 crore.
During the visit, Justice Bhati and Justice Sanjeev Kumar inspected various Lok Adalat benches, interacted with judicial officers, advocates and litigants, and reviewed the settlement process.
Addressing participants, Justice Bhati said Lok Adalats play an important role in ensuring speedy and amicable resolution of disputes, reducing litigation costs and improving access to justice. Justice Sanjeev Kumar said the mechanism provides an effective alternative to prolonged court proceedings and encouraged greater public participation.
Meanwhile, Justice Rajnesh Oswal inaugurated the National Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex in Jammu, where he was received by Principal District and Sessions Judge Jammu, Tahir Khurshid Raina, and other judicial officers.
The event witnessed participation from judicial officers, advocates, government departments, insurance companies, banking institutions and litigants. Officials said the initiative was aimed at promoting alternative dispute resolution and reducing the burden of pending litigation.
Member Secretary of the JKLSA, Shazia Tabasum, said the fourth and final National Lok Adalat of 2026 is scheduled to be held on December 12 and urged eligible litigants to avail themselves of the opportunity.