First Special Lok Adalat under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act Held in Durg Proves Successful; A Total of 449 Cases Disposed of with Settlement Amount of ₹13,88,05,129
On 18 July 2026, the First Special Lok Adalat of the year 2026 under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 was inaugurated by Hon’ble Shri Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh and Patron-in-Chief, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur, from District Dantewada. On this occasion, Judicial Officers from all the districts of the State joined the programme through virtual mode.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice conveyed his congratulations and best wishes to all the districts on the organisation of the Special Lok Adalat under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Describing the Lok Adalat as an effective mechanism for ensuring accessible justice, His Lordship called upon all Judicial Officers, Advocates and the concerned Banks to work in close coordination for the disposal of the maximum number of cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
On this occasion, under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, and the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), Bilaspur, and with the objective of realising the concept of “Accessible, Speedy and Effective Justice,” a Special Lok Adalat was successfully organised on 18 July 2026 at the Principal District and Sessions Court, Durg, for the disposal of pending cases relating to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Cheque Bounce Cases). A total of 15 Benches were constituted in Durg District. Out of 1,001 identified cases, 449 cases were successfully disposed of through settlement, with a total settlement amount of ₹13,88,05,129/-.
The objective of the Special Lok Adalat was to provide the parties with a speedy, cost-effective and permanent resolution of disputes through mutual settlement and amicable dialogue. Organised in the true spirit of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the Special Lok Adalat reaffirmed that settlement through mutual consent is one of the most effective and practical modes of securing justice. The Special Lok Adalat achieved encouraging and expected results, which were made possible due to systematic planning, continuous coordination and extensive preparatory efforts undertaken at the district level.
For the successful conduct of the Special Lok Adalat, under the guidance of Shri K. Vinod Kujur, Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Durg, a special team comprising Shri Bhupesh Kumar Basant, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Smt. Akanksha Rathore, Judicial Magistrate First Class, and Smt. Anjali Singh, Judicial Magistrate First Class, was constituted. The team maintained continuous interaction with the concerned Advocates and litigating parties and encouraged them to resolve their disputes through mutual dialogue and settlement. Continuous case-wise monitoring and coordination were also undertaken to ensure the amicable settlement of the maximum number of cases through dedicated and commendable efforts.
The Mediation Centre, Durg, also played a significant role in the success of the Special Lok Adalat. The Mediator Judges patiently counselled the parties in several cases and facilitated constructive dialogue, thereby creating an atmosphere conducive to mutual settlement. As a result, a large number of disputes were successfully resolved amicably. The proactive role of the Mediation Centre emerged as one of the important pillars of the success of the Special Lok Adalat.
The District Bar Association, Durg, extended remarkable cooperation and active participation in the successful organisation of the Special Lok Adalat. The Advocates played an important role by motivating their respective clients to opt for amicable settlement, thereby contributing significantly towards the speedy and effective disposal of cases.
In addition, officers and representatives of various public sector and private Banks also extended positive cooperation by actively participating in the Special Lok Adalat and facilitating the amicable settlement of pending cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
The participation of students from various Law Colleges of Durg District in the Special Lok Adalat was also highly appreciable. Their participation not only provided them with valuable practical legal training but also contributed significantly towards strengthening public awareness and confidence in the system of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
It is also noteworthy that, in accordance with the guidelines issued from time to time by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, and its policy of promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Lok Adalats have emerged as a powerful mechanism for the speedy and effective disposal of pending court cases. Particularly in matters relating to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, settlement through mutual consent not only reduces the burden of pending litigation on the courts but also saves the valuable time, money and effort of the parties while preserving commercial and social relationships.
Shri Umesh Kumar Bhagwatkar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Durg, expressed his gratitude to all the Judicial Officers, Advocates, Mediator Judges, Court Staff and litigating parties who contributed to the success of the Special Lok Adalat. He also expressed confidence that, in future as well, the spirit of mutual settlement and dialogue would continue to be promoted, thereby making justice more simple, accessible and effective.
This achievement is the result of the collective teamwork and continuous efforts of all the Judicial Officers.
The successful implementation of the Mediation Drivein Durg made a significant contribution to this achievement. During the campaign, cases suitable for mediation were identified and referred to the Mediation Centre, parties were encouraged to arrive at amicable settlements, and pending cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (N.I. Act) were regularly monitored. These sustained efforts enabled numerous disputes to be resolved through mutual consent and created a positive environment for the expeditious disposal of cases.
The disposal of 449 cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 was the outcome of well-planned strategy, regular monitoring, and the dedicated, coordinated efforts of our Judicial Officers, Mediators, members of the Bar, and Court staff.
