Jammu: In a significant step towards faster and consensual dispute resolution, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has initiated Pre-Lok Adalat conciliation proceedings in 202 cases pending before the Supreme Court, as part of a nationwide mediation drive titled “Samadhan Samaroh.”
The initiative, launched by the Supreme Court of India on April 21, 2026, under the programme “Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Disputes Harmonization Across Nation,” will culminate in a Special Lok Adalat scheduled for August 21, 22 and 23, 2026.
As per Order No. 943(A) of 2026/RG dated June 18, issued by Registrar General M.K. Sharma, the apex court has forwarded a consolidated list of 202 cases from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for possible settlement through mediation and conciliation.
These cases have been distributed among judicial officers for detailed examination to identify core issues and explore settlement possibilities ahead of the Lok Adalat proceedings.
The High Court has directed that Pre-Lok Adalat sittings be conducted at both the Jammu and Srinagar Wings of the High Court to facilitate early resolution. Nominated mediators, including retired judges, advocates, panel lawyers and other officers, will conduct the conciliation process as per the schedule.
At the Jammu Wing, sittings will be held from June 30 to July 6, 2026, covering cases numbered 1 to 92. In Srinagar, cases numbered 93 to 202 have been assigned to designated benches for similar proceedings.
The Member Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority has been directed to instruct District Legal Services Authorities concerned to issue notices to parties in the prescribed format to ensure their participation in the settlement process.
Officials said the move is aimed at reducing prolonged litigation and encouraging amicable settlement of disputes before they are taken up in the Special Lok Adalat at the Supreme Court level, thereby easing judicial burden and offering litigants a faster resolution mechanism.
