Nagpur: As many 8523 cases including a 21-year-old criminal dispute were settled during the Third National Lok Adalat here.

Many old civil and criminal matters which were kept for hearing were amicably settled yesterday resulting in many senior citizens getting benefited. The settlement/success ratio of National Lok Adalat was described as 50 percent.

Moreover, the total settlement amount rose to Rs 5.70 crore while a total fine collected summed up to Rs 7,69,150.

Motor Accident Claims settlement amount crossed Rs 2.65 crore while cheque bounce settlement amount was estimated above Rs 1.14 crore.

The District Legal Services Authority, Nagpur under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority and Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, Nagpur had organised the third edition of the Lok Adalat for pending matters and pre-litigation disputes at district court premises here.

Principal District Judge Kishore Sonawane inaugurated the National Lok Adalat.

Civil Judge and DLSA Secretary Kishore Jaiswal, stated that 29 panels were constituted to handle the cases kept before National Lok Adalat.

Along with this National Lok Adalat, a special drive was also undertaken wherein 3092 matters were kept.

Each panel of Lok Adalat was headed by Judicial Officers with advocates and social workers as its members assisted by law students.

In this edition of the National Lok Adalat, civil cases, land acquisition matters, compoundable criminal cases, matrimonial disputes, motor accidents claim petitions, cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act besides other civil and criminal pending and pre-litigation disputes were placed for settlement.

The Lok Adalat special panel comprised retired district judge, orthopaedic surgeon and retired officials of insurance company, a release from DLSA said here.