Bahraich: Administrative officials in Devipatan division are taking steps to resolve disputes in rural areas through dialogue, community mediation and mutual consent under ‘Litigation-Free Devipatan Dialogue for Resolution’ campaign.So far, 330 out of 500 selected villages in the division have been declared litigation-free, while 769 disputes have been resolved through dialogue and mutual agreement.The campaign is being implemented under divisional commissioner Durga Shakti Nagpal across 16 tehsils in four districts of Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur and Shravasti.The initiative aims to resolve civil, revenue and community-related disputes at the village level through dialogue and mediation, allowing villagers to avoid unnecessary litigation and save both time and money.As part of the campaign, a five-member community mediation panel has been formed in each selected village. The panel includes lekhpal, panchayat secretary, gram pradhan, a woman representative and a senior member of the village.Mediation centers have been established at gram panchayat buildings or other public locations, while naib tehsildars or tehsildars have been designated as nodal officers to supervise and monitor the mediation process.According to the divisional administration, Gonda has so far declared 82 villages litigation-free, with 167 disputes received for resolution.In Balrampur, 86 villages have been declared litigation-free, and 237 disputes have been received. Bahraich has recorded the highest number, with 109 villages declared litigation-free and 141 disputes received. In Shravasti, 53 villages have been declared litigation-free, while 224 disputes are being taken up for resolution through the mediation process.The campaign focuses on resolving disputes related to village pathways, access routes through residential areas, drainage, partition of property, inheritance and land boundaries.The administration aims to complete the mediation process in the remaining selected villages and eventually establish the entire Devipatan division as a litigation-free division.
