Mangalore : The DK district Legal Service Authority in Mangalore and local Bar Association together arranged Mega “Lok Adalat” (People’s Court) programme on Monday afternoon, which was duly inaugurated at the District Courts Complex atop Hills over Karangalpady today. Senior Judge Seetharama Shetty inaugurated this novel programme by lighting the traditional lamp. Speaking on the occasion, he explained that the main aim of legal services Authority was to make people aware of a presence of Law and order. It also provides a minimum knowledge to rural people of laws made for them. Several programmes are expected on the Authority levels. Free legal advice is one of the provisions there. Lawyers need to go to villages and propagate legal matters to the poor people and assist them to get justice, he said.

Senior Judge Radhakrishna Holla, in his speech mentioned that in olden times, courts did not compromise on legal issues and bring parties round to a compromise solution to satisfy both parties, but adjudicate on a given issue. But criminal cases multiplied, but courts fell behind in numbers. There were never a delay in giving a judgment, but delay happened under pressure. The clients expect a quick justice, and easily at that, so a new form of court “Lok Adalat” came into being.

District Law Authority Chairman Deshpande informed the gathering that from Monday (today), the Lok Adalat would function daily, ending in March next year. There are over 45,000 cases pending, and with a view to reduce this number, a Mega “Lok Adalat” has come into effect. 97 people’s courts have been created to reduce pressure, criminal cases and crude rivalries in Law matters. It has to develop into a people’s movement, observed. The District Legal Service Authority chief, Deshpande, City Bar Association chief S.P. Chenappa, Lawyers Patil and Padmaprasad Hegde, among others were seated on the dais.