National Lok Adalat on June 20: Litigants get chance for speedy, cost-effective justice

Port Blair, June 10: Offering a faster and less expensive route to justice, the National Lok Adalat will return to Port Blair on June 20, opening the door for litigants to settle long-pending disputes through mutual agreement instead of prolonged courtroom battles.In this significant initiative aimed at promoting speedy and amicable resolution of disputes, the second National Lok Adalat of 2026 will be held at the Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court, Port Blair, on June 20 at 10 a.m. Organized by the High Court Legal Services Committee (HCLSC), the National Lok Adalat will provide litigants with an opportunity to settle pending cases before the High Court as well as eligible pre-litigation matters through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, thereby reducing lengthy legal proceedings and saving valuable time and resources.The HCLSC has invited parties interested in resolving their disputes through mutual settlement to submit joint applications, either directly or through their advocates, by June 16, 2026, before 5 p.m. Applications may be submitted at the office of the High Court Legal Services Committee located in the Circuit Bench Complex, Port Blair, or sent via email to hcourt.and@nic.in within the stipulated deadline.Officials said applications received after the cut-off date would be considered for subsequent Lok Adalats, as sufficient time is required for requisitioning case records, constitution of benches and preparation of cause lists.The authorities have also clarified that only those matters for which case records are available will be included in the cause list. No request for reconstruction of files will be entertained if the relevant records are unavailable before the Lok Adalat Bench.Lok Adalats have emerged as an effective platform for resolving disputes through conciliation and mutual agreement, helping litigants secure quicker justice while easing the burden on courts. The upcoming session is expected to benefit a large number of litigants in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands seeking expeditious settlement of their legal disputes.