Justice G.S. Singhvi, who had initiated the move for the convening of the National Lok Adalat, said: "Lok Adalats or mediation is one of the most powerful instruments in speedy justice, which conforms to the goals of the preamble of the constitution."
Justice Singhvi, who took over as executive chairman of NALSA in September, has also expressed the need for nurturing awareness of the benefits of amicable resolution of disputes through forums like Lok Adalats or mediation.
Justice Singhvi is hopeful that about 20 lakh cases would be settled Saturday.
Pointing to the need for efficient justice delivery, Justice Singhvi said the award of enhanced insurance compensation or settlement of a matrimonial dispute after a litigation spanning a decade or more is meaningless. He wondered what the value of the money was, if enhanced compensation was decided after 15 years.
Justice Singhvi favoured early resolution of matrimonial disputes either way, so that people could start their lives afresh.
Justice A.K.Patnaik, chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Authority, said the poor litigants who cannot afford lengthy and expensive litigation could get relief in Lok Adalats.
However, he said that Lok Adalats were not popular with litigants before the Supreme Court. He said that was because issues before the apex court are contentious, and perhaps those who have come right up to the top court can afford the cost of litigation.
R.S.Gujral, secretary in the department of expenditure, said that the ratio of judges per million population in India, compared to developed countries, was very poor, and needed improvment.
He said it was clear that the number of courts and judges needed to be increased. Gujral said mutual settlement of cases was the only way to reduce the pendency of cases. Gujral is a member of NALSA.
