A fast track court in Sewri, Mumbai held a Mahadalat on March 3. In a Mahadalat any litigant can go in for a compromise with his opponent on mutually agreeable terms and the judge allows them to withdraw the case.
The Sewri court has 2,257 cases pending. Out of this 35 pairs of litigants came forward to find a compromise on Sunday and 19 cases were settled. Eight cases of electricity theft were settled with the accused deciding to pay the dues.
The dues were reduced to come to a compromise. In this manner, nearly Rs 20 lakhs were recovered during the Mahadalat.
The other cases were ten concerning negotiable instruments and one
was a criminal case.
Two judges and 30 court staff worked on Sunday. All the other four judges of the court including Principal Judge M L Chauhan visited the premises to make sure that everything was proceeding smoothly and to also offer any help that may be needed.
Last year a similar Mahadhalat attracted more than 150 cases. The fall in cases this year is attributed a new mechanism that has been operating in the small cause court this year.
There is a mediation authority and anyone ready to reach a settlement is welcome to do so on any working day of the court. Thus you do not have to wait for a Mahadalat to withdraw a case after a compromise.
