MAHARASHTRA Administrative Tribunal (MAT) in its 33-year history, organised a Lok Adalat for the first time. This innovative initiative was implemented under the guidance of the tribunal’s Chairperson, Justice Mridula Bhatkar. Out of 542 service-related cases presented during the event, 138 cases were successfully resolved. The Lok Adalat was a joint effort of the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal and the Bombay High Court Legal Services Committee. Three panels were formed for the event, with Justice Vinay Joshi, retired members (Justice) A P Kurhekar and R B Malik serving as panel heads.

 

Other members included Nitin Gadre (Nagpur), Vijaykumar (Aurangabad), Vijaya Chauhan, Sandesh Tadvi, R M Kolge, and M B Kadam. Across the three benches - Mumbai, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar - 542 cases were brought to the Lok Adalat. Of these, 138 cases were resolved, including 39 at the Mumbai bench, 63 cases at Nagpur bench and 36 cases at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar bench. The Lok Adalat provided a breakthrough in three cases, enabling 126 candidates to secure Government jobs. Positions in the Water Conservation Department (171) and the Agriculture Department (218) were originally reserved for ex-servicemen. Since eligible ex-servicemen candidates were unavailable for all positions, the remaining vacant posts were allocated to other candidates through a settlement. It provided employment to 126 candidates.