March 14, 2026 : In a major push to promote speedy and accessible justice, the first National Lok Adalat of 2026 in Chhattisgarh was inaugurated on Saturday at the District and Sessions Court in Durg by Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha. The initiative resulted in the disposal of more than 71 lakh cases across the state in a single day.
Justice Ramesh Sinha, who also serves as the Patron-in-Chief of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority (CGSLSA), launched the proceedings in the presence of Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, the Portfolio Judge for Durg district. During the visit, the Chief Justice inspected the functioning of the Lok Adalat benches and interacted with judicial officers, advocates, and representatives from banking institutions and the electricity department who were participating in the settlement process.
Addressing the stakeholders, the Chief Justice emphasized that coordinated efforts among judges, lawyers, government departments, and institutions are essential to reduce the growing backlog of cases and ensure effective dispute resolution. He appreciated the role played by all participating agencies and encouraged them to actively facilitate amicable settlements so that litigants can receive timely and meaningful justice.
On the occasion, Justice Sinha also released a special theme song aimed at promoting awareness about Lok Adalats and mediation. The song has been composed in the traditional Pandwani style, a prominent folk storytelling tradition of Chhattisgarh, with the aim of spreading the message of amicable dispute resolution among people in a culturally relatable way.
After completing his visit to Durg, the Chief Justice proceeded to the District and Sessions Court in Raipur where he reviewed the ongoing proceedings of the National Lok Adalat. He interacted with judicial officers and other stakeholders to assess the progress of settlements and encouraged them to continue working towards efficient resolution of disputes through the Lok Adalat system.
Later, from Raipur, Justice Sinha conducted a virtual review of Lok Adalat proceedings taking place at the High Court and across all 23 districts of Chhattisgarh. Using digital connectivity, he interacted with the Lok Adalat benches of the High Court presided over by Justice Sachin Singh Rajput and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, appreciating their efforts in promoting amicable settlements.
The Chief Justice also held discussions with Principal District and Sessions Judges from all districts, stressing that National Lok Adalats remain one of the most effective mechanisms for ensuring swift justice. He urged judicial officers to continue making dedicated efforts to maximise disposal of cases through settlement-based mechanisms.
According to the official data from the first National Lok Adalat held on March 14, 2026, a total of 71,94,079 cases were resolved across the High Court, district courts, taluka courts and revenue courts throughout Chhattisgarh. These included criminal compoundable cases, civil disputes, revenue matters, pre-litigation cases and traffic challans. Awards amounting to ₹37,32,45,02,059 were passed during the proceedings.
Since assuming office, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha has consistently emphasised the importance of delivering speedy, affordable and accessible justice through the Lok Adalat system. Regular review meetings and continuous guidance have been provided to Principal District Judges across the state to strengthen the functioning of Lok Adalats and expand access to justice for the public.
The Chief Justice also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Executive Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Justice Parth Prateem Sahu, Chairman of the High Court Legal Services Committee, along with all Principal District and Sessions Judges, Family Court judges, presiding officers of Lok Adalat benches, advocates, litigants and other stakeholders who contributed to the successful organisation of the National Lok Adalat.
