Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: In a continued pursuit of delivering timely and affordable justice, J&K Legal Services Authority, under the leadership of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice (A), High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief & Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and guidance of Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee, today organized the 3rd National Lok Adalat of the current calendar year across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
This initiative aimed to foster peaceful settlements in a wide range of disputes both at pre institution stage as well as those pending disposal before the Courts and Tribunals that include motor accident claims, matrimonial issues, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes and compoundable criminal cases, reinforcing the moto of providing easy accessible justice for all.
To facilitate maximum settlements of disputes, Pre-Lok Adalat sittings and pre-counseling sessions were organized well before the date of National Lok Adalat so that the parties get ample opportunity to engage in dialogue with their opponents to arrive at a consensus to resolve the dispute permanently.
Besides, webinars and virtual meetings were also organized to sensitize the stakeholders, officers of Legal Services Institutions, LADCs, Panel Lawyers, PLVs and others involved in strengthening Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanisms, regarding the importance of Lok Adalat and to persuade the parties to take maximum benefit out of it.
As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts of UT of J&K, out of the total 1,99,876 cases taken up by 126 Benches in the day long National Lok Adalat, 1,80,989 cases were amicably settled and disposed off involving settlement amount of Rs 58,61,39,416 paid as compensation etc. in cases like Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills, land acquisition, family matters, cheque dishonor and bank recovery etc.
Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority said that high participation and settlement of disputes is a testament to the public’s preference for resolving disputes through ADR mechanisms, which offer a quick and more affordable alternative to litigation.
He emphasized the importance of ADR in reducing the burden on traditional courts while ensuring that justice is served efficiently. He further informed that those who could not settle their cases during the 3rd National Lok Adalat or take advantage of the opportunity may do so in future Lok Adalat sessions.
In Jammu, the National Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Y P Bourney (Pr. District & Sessions Judge) and supervision of Smriti Sharma, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Jammu.
A total of 25 benches were constituted to settle the cases related to bank recovery, criminal compoundable, MACT, matrimonial, NI Act Under Section 138, revenue cases, electricity bills, other civil cases and traffic challans. A total of 82201 cases pertaining to different nature were taken up, out of which 81066 cases were settled. An amount of Rs. 17,05,37,612 was recovered.
In the National Lok Adalat held at District Headquarters Kathua as well as all the Muffasil courts of the district under the guidance of Jatinder Singh Jamwal, Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairman District Legal Services Authority, a total of 1217 cases were taken for amicable settlement and 850 cases were settled. An amount of Rs 5,13,78,798 was realized as settlement amount.
In Bandipora, the Lok Adalat was held under the supervision of Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Pr. District & Session Judge) Khalil Ahmad Choudhary and under the guidance of Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Bandipora.
A total of five Benches were constituted, which took up 1005 cases. Of these, 566 cases were settled and an amount of Rs 50,56,810 was awarded to the aggrieved parties.
In Reasi, the Lok Adalat was held under the guidance of S C Katal, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Principal District and Sessions Judge). A total of six benches were constituted, which took up 1862 cases for their amicable settlement. Of these, 1428 cases were settled and an amount of Rs 66,88,322 was realized.
A total of 991 cases were taken up, out of which 752 were settled in the Lok Adalat held in Samba under the guidance of R N Wattal, Principal District and Sessions Judge (Chairman of District Legal Services Authority. Three benches were constituted to handle the cases and with the settlement of cases an amount of Rs 2,28,65,854 was realized.
In Rajouri, Lok Adalat was held under the guidance of Rajeev Gupta, Chairman of District Legal Services Authority (Principal District and Sessions Judge). A total of 1004 cases were taken up and 407 were settled.
National Lok Adalat was also conducted by Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and a bench of Nighat Sultana (Officiating President) and Hema Chowdhry (Member) took up a total of seven cases and three were settled with mutual consent of the parties involved.
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