Alternative Dispute Resolution Center launched

Infrastructure in courts have taken a hit due to fund crunch: Patil

A total of 15.63 lakh cases have been disposed in the State during the national Lok Adalat held between the months of October and December, said High Court judge, N K Patil, here on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration of Alternative Dispute Resolution Center in the city, he said that of the cases disposed, 2.43 lakh were court cases, while 13.2 lakh pre-litigation cases were disposed in various courts across the State.

Noting that Mysuru was developing rapidly and the population was increasing in the city, he said, the Law department had planned several projects to provide infrastructure facilities like additional courts.

“The number of cases rise proportionally with the increase in population. Basic infrastructure facilities for court complexes have to be created to ensure that cases are disposed rapidly. 

However, the department is facing a shortage of funds, which has to be addressed by the State government,” he said.

Revenue Minister, V Srinivas Prasad said that discussions are being held to record proceedings of lower and higher courts in Kannada in the State. “The State is also mulling over organising a convention of all Chief Ministers of the country, to deliberate on providing education in the State language,” he said.

ErrorsHe said that of the 1.61 crore RTCs in the State, close to 50 per cent of them had errors, a majority of them among agrarian communities.

However, computerisation and spot visits by officials of the Revenue department had helped in reducing errors in RTCs during the past couple of years. Similarly, judicial services have to reach door steps of the poor, he said. Ashok G Nijagannanavar, Member Secretary of Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, complained that the “greed of lawyers”, had destroyed mediation centres in rural areas. “The staff at such centers should inculcate honesty and develop faith among the clients who visit the centers. Lawyers have a major role in increasing the efficiency of mediation centres,” he said. Referring to Arbitration Act, 1955, he said that even though the legislation had provisions to avoid disputes among two parties, it was only being used by the rich and businessmen to sort out their disputes. Noting that awareness about the Act must be generated in rural areas too, he said that implementing sections of the Act in all contracts, would automatically reduce disputes.

Funds soughtDuring the inaugural, funds to the tune of Rs 175 crore was sought for developing infrastructure in the district. Of the funds, Rs 117 crore is for new and old works at Mysuru and Hunsur divisions, while Rs 58 crores will be used for works on residential quarters.