Bilaspur, May 9: Ramesh Sinha virtually inaugurated the second National Lok Adalat of 2026 across all 23 districts of Chhattisgarh from the District and Sessions Court, Mungeli, on Friday.
According to a press release issued by the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (CGLSA), the inauguration ceremony began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp at the District and Sessions Court, Mungeli, following which the Chief Justice formally declared the proceedings open statewide.
Addressing judicial officers virtually across the State, the Chief Justice described Lok Adalats as a “dream project” of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and emphasized their role in promoting harmony and ensuring speedy justice delivery. He urged judicial officers to actively facilitate settlements and maximize disposal of pending matters.
After the inauguration, Justice Sinha inspected the Lok Adalat benches constituted at Mungeli and distributed Ayushman cards to beneficiaries. He also interacted with officials of banks, insurance companies and municipal corporations, encouraging them to participate proactively in settlement efforts.
The Chief Justice also visited the two National Lok Adalat benches functioning at the High Court of Chhattisgarh, which were presided over by Ravindra Kumar Agrawal and Bibhu Datta Guru. He commended the judges for their efforts in promoting amicable dispute resolution.
The press release stated that under the leadership of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha, the State judiciary has focused on strengthening accessible and affordable justice through regular review mechanisms and proactive monitoring of Lok Adalat proceedings.
As per the data compiled for the National Lok Adalat held on May 9, 2026, a total of 64,72,606 cases were settled across the High Court, District Courts, Taluka Courts, Revenue Courts, forums and tribunals. Awards amounting to ₹36,24,58,69,436 were passed during the exercise.
The release noted that despite the shorter gap between Lok Adalats, the Chhattisgarh judiciary succeeded in resolving a substantial number of criminal compoundable, civil, revenue and pre-litigation disputes, reflecting continued public confidence in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Justice Sinha also appreciated Sanjay K. Agrawal, Parth Prateem Sahu, Principal District and Sessions Judges, Family Court judges, Lok Adalat bench officers, advocates and all stakeholders associated with the event.
