Belagavi: The Belagavi District Legal Services Authority planned for a massive district-level legal awareness programme in 1,200 govt and private high schools in the district on Saturday.
Addressing the press conference here on Wednesday, the principal district and sessions judge Manjunath Nayak said the main inaugural function will be held at KLS High School, Tilakwadi, and will be inaugurated via video conference by district administrative judge Jayant Banerjee.
As part of the initiative, 65 judges from across the district will visit different schools to conduct awareness sessions, focusing on key legislation, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (Pocso), laws relating to child marriage, and child labour. Advocates, mediators, para-legal volunteers, and other legal experts will also participate in the campaign. Judge Nayak said the district aims to set a new benchmark through the large-scale outreach.
Lok Adalat on March 14
Judge Nayak also announced that the first National Lok Adalat of the year will be held on March 14 across Belagavi district and all taluk courts. Around 85 Lok Adalat benches will function on the day, with nearly 28,000 cases identified for settlement.
He noted that during the previous Lok Adalat held in Dec, more than 20,000 pending court cases were disposed of, along with over three lakh pre-litigation cases. Authorities are optimistic about achieving similar success this time.
Mediation drive intensified
In addition, the district judiciary intensified its mediation efforts in line with guidelines issued by the Supreme Court of India. The mediation process, which began in Jan, will continue for 90 days. Trained advocates were appointed as mediators in courts to facilitate amicable settlements, particularly in family and matrimonial disputes.
Judge Nayak said mediation proved effective in resolving conflicts, especially between spouses, and helps reduce the burden on courts while promoting harmonious settlements.
