Couple on verge of divorce patch up in Nat’l Lok Adalat

A couple on the verge of divorce found reconciliation today at the National Lok Adalat in Karnal. Despite being married for over a decade, the husband had filed for divorce.

But the Bench during the Lok Adalat proceedings encouraged both parties to revisit their shared memories and consider the impact on their children. What began as a bitter dispute took an unexpected turn when the husband, once resolute in his choice, reconsidered. In a remarkable outcome, the couple withdrew their divorce petition, displaying how Lok Adalats not only resolve legal disputes but also heal personal rifts and restore harmony within families.

This case was one of many heard during the third National Lok Adalat held across 22 districts and 34 sub-divisions of Haryana where approximately four lakh cases, including matters at pre-litigative stage, were disposed of.

The Lok Adalat was organised under the leadership of NALSA executive chairperson and Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sanjeev Khanna, and HALSA patron-in-chief, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of Punjab and Haryana High Court. The efforts of HALSA executive chairperson Justice Arun Palli and member secretary Surya Partap Singh were crucial in achieving swift and amicable resolutions for thousands of litigants across the state.

It saw the constitution of 167 Benches, handling disputes ranging from civil and matrimonial issues to motor accident claims, bank recovery, cheque bounce, and traffic challans. In Faridabad, another case showcased the Lok Adalat’s capacity to deliver swift justice. Despite rain, a large crowd gathered at the event, including a vegetable seller left without work due to injuries sustained in an accident. With little evidence to support his claim, his chances of receiving compensation seemed slim. But the Lok Adalat Bench, led by Additional District and Sessions Judge Amrit Singh Chaliya, worked with an orthopaedic surgeon to assess the man’s disability on the spot. As a result, the insurance company agreed to a settlement of Rs 3.4 lakh, providing the man with much-needed relief.