Chikkamagaluru: In a rare display of empathy and judicial intervention, a major loan recovery dispute was amicably resolved at the Mega Lok Adalat organised by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Chikkamagaluru, on Saturday.Canara Bank had filed a commercial execution petition against a severely differently abled man for the recovery of an outstanding loan of more than Rs 8 lakh. Given his physical challenges and financial distress, pursuing a prolonged legal battle was nearly impossible for him.Recognising the human dimension of the case, principal district and sessions judge Ravindra Hegde personally intervened. To accommodate the litigant’s condition, conventional court procedures were relaxed. In a compassionate gesture, the judge, along with other stakeholders, moved from the courtroom to the DLSA front office to meet the individual directly.Canara Bank regional manager V Hanumanthappa, DLSA member secretary BM Lakshmanegowda, the president of the Bar Association, conciliators, and panel lawyers participated in the negotiations.Considering the litigant’s extreme hardship, the bank agreed to a significant concession. The claim of over Rs 8 lakh was settled for a lump sum payment of just Rs 15,000, providing immense relief to the differently abled man, Hanumanthappa said.The settlement drew widespread appreciation from the legal fraternity and the public. “This case highlights the true purpose of Lok Adalats and the DLSA — ensuring that justice is not merely the rigid application of law, but a humane process accessible to the most vulnerable sections of society,” Lakshmanegowda said.
