Paralakhemundi,(Tarini Prasad Panda):In a remarkable stride toward swift and amicable justice, the first National Lok Adalat of 2026 was successfully conducted across Gajapati district, bringing relief to hundreds of litigants and reaffirming faith in the spirit of consensual dispute resolution.
Organised under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi, and the Odisha State Legal Services Authority, Cuttack, the Lok Adalat proceedings were held at courts in Paralakhemundi, R. Udayagiri, Mohana, and the Gram Nyayalaya at Kashinagar.
A total of 3,835 cases were taken up during the session, out of which 2,498 cases found successful settlement, reflecting the effectiveness of dialogue and mutual understanding over prolonged litigation. Through these settlements, an amount of Rs 8,42,425 was realised.
The programme unfolded under the direct supervision of District and Sessions Judge and Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Jagadish Prasad Mohanty, whose leadership ensured the smooth conduct of the proceedings.
Several judicial officers presided over the Lok Adalat benches at different courts, including Dr. Jeevan Jyoti Rath, Judge of the Family Court; Bibhu Prasad Panda and Satya Narayan Patra, Additional District & Sessions Judges (Special Court), Paralakhemundi; Prasanna Kumar Behera, Registrar of the Civil Court; Rasmita Sahu, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Women’s Court; Bishnupriya Samantray, SDJM; and Satyajit Pani, JMFC, Paralakhemundi.
Simultaneously, proceedings were conducted at other centres by Soudamini Biswal, Civil Judge (Senior Division), R. Udayagiri; Tarun Kumar Sethi, JMFC, R. Udayagiri; Subhajit Behera, JMFC, Mohana; and Monali Behera, JMFC-cum-Gram Nyayadhikari, Kashinagar.
Representatives from various banks, the electricity department, and other government agencies also participated actively. Their cooperation helped resolve numerous disputes through mutual consent, transforming potential courtroom battles into peaceful settlements.
The district-level National Lok Adalat thus stood as a testament to the power of conciliation—where justice was not only delivered swiftly but also embraced with collective satisfaction.
