National Lok Adalat panel asks Rlys to authorise railway officials to settle pending cases

A National Lok Adalat panel, headed by Bombay High Court’s Justice Anuja Prabhudessai, has asked the Railways to take expeditious decision on authorising railway officials to settle cases and reach compromises to help reduce the pendency of cases before the National Lok Adalat.

The three-member National Lok Adalat panel – an alternative dispute redressal mechanism forum – on May 7 noted that 112 appeals under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act have been placed before it for settlement.

Advocate T J Pandian, appearing for Railways, said that railway officials, who appeared before the national panel, had no authority to enter into settlements or to give consent to settle matters.