Author: Aadarsh Patel | EQMint
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) conducted the 3rd National Lok Adalat of 2026 on September 12, providing litigants across the country an opportunity to resolve disputes through settlement and conciliation instead of prolonged litigation.
Lok Adalat benches were constituted across 26 states and seven Union Territories, bringing together judicial officers, advocates, Para Legal Volunteers and litigants across different levels of the justice system, from High Courts to taluka-level courts.
According to tentative figures received up to 7 PM on September 12, a total of 2,10,39,112 cases were settled. The figures exclude Karnataka, Rajasthan and Delhi, where National Lok Adalats are scheduled to be held on September 19, October 10 and October 25, respectively. Jurisdictions from which data was still being received were also excluded.
Of the total settlements, 1,90,75,743 were pre-litigation matters, while 19,63,369 were cases already pending before courts. The settlements involved a cumulative value of ₹13,589.28 crore.
The Lok Adalat addressed a broad range of disputes, including cheque-bouncing cases, motor accident claims, matrimonial disputes, labour disputes, consumer complaints, land acquisition matters, succession disputes, arbitration claims involving small businesses, compoundable criminal cases and traffic challans.
Bank recovery cases, service matters, revenue disputes and public utility grievances were also taken up. Long-pending matters identified through the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) were specifically prioritised for settlement.
In his message ahead of the event, Chief Justice of India and NALSA Patron-in-Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasised the importance of making access to justice a lived reality and encouraged citizens to use Lok Adalats as a simpler route to resolving disputes.
Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court and Executive Chairman of NALSA, highlighted the role of the mechanism in reducing case pendency and helping parties reach mutually acceptable solutions without prolonged litigation costs and delays.
Awards passed by Lok Adalats carry the finality of a decree and are binding on the parties. The press release also states that the awards are unappealable and that the court fee paid by litigants is refunded, reducing the additional cost of settlement.
NALSA said the National Lok Adalat forms part of its broader efforts involving free legal aid, legal awareness camps, mediation, conciliation, victim compensation, legal services clinics and a nationwide network of panel lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers.
The 3rd National Lok Adalat of 2026 therefore added to NALSA’s continuing efforts to promote accessible and consensual dispute resolution across the country.
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