On Saturday, judges from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court extended their outreach efforts beyond traditional courtrooms by visiting district and taluka courts across Vidarbha. This initiative coincided with the National Lok Adalat proceedings, where they not only oversaw the hearings but also assessed the judicial infrastructure. Additionally, the judges took the opportunity to listen to concerns raised by lawyers and court staff, aiming to improve the overall functioning of the legal system in the region.
Nagpur bench has 11 districts under its guardian-judge system — Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur, Akola, Gondia, Yavatmal, Wardha, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Buldhana and Washim. The special drive coincided with National Lok Adalat held on Sept 12. At Nagpur bench on Sept 12, 67 cases were settled, involving settlements worth ₹83.5 crore, according to High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee.
The visits were not confined to the settlement of cases. The judges inspected court infrastructure, including the condition and functioning of court facilities, and reviewed residential accommodation available to members of the judiciary and court staff wherever they visited. They also interacted with members of the local Bar and heard their concerns about infrastructure, court facilities and other difficulties affecting the functioning of district and taluka courts. The judges also helped address issues that arose during the Lok Adalat proceedings, coordinating with local judicial officers and other stakeholders wherever necessary. The initiative assumed particular importance for taluka courts, which are often the first point of contact with the justice system for litigants outside major cities. By visiting the courts personally, the HC judges were able to assess not only the infrastructure available to judicial officers but also the facilities available to lawyers and staff. National Lok Adalat itself was part of High Court’s continuing effort to facilitate amicable settlement of disputes and reduce pendency.