JAMMU: Under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority, the J&K Legal Services Authority organized the first National Lok Adalat of the calendar year 2023 throughout the U.T of J&K, today under the zestful leadership of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Acting Chief Justice and Patron-in-Chief/Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and also under the able guidance of Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.
In order to boost amicable settlements amongst the parties in cases like MACT, Matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce under NI Act, Money recovery, etc., pre-lokAdalat sittings and pre-counseling sessions were organized well before the date of the first National Lok Adalat so that the parties may get more chances for negotiation/dialogue with the opposite parties to arrive at a consensus.
Apart from that, webinars and virtual meetings were organized to sensitize the officers of Legal Services Authorities/Committees, Panel Lawyers, and PLVs about the importance of Lok Adalat as a mode for Alternate Dispute Resolution.
As per the information received from different Legal Services Institutions of various districts of UT of J&K, out of a total number of 88,723 cases taken up by 142 Benches in the day-long National Lok Adalat at various courts across the UT of J&K, 75,250 Cases were disposed of and an amount of Rs. 45,05,14,697/- was awarded as compensation/settlement amount in Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills cases, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery cases.
Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, Amit Kumar Gupta informed that this was the first National Lok Adalat of the current calendar year and in total four National LokAdalats shall be organized during the course of the year. He also informed that the Special LokAdalats are also organized by every court for quick disposal of the cases to provide solace to the litigants.
Gupta urged the litigants to take maximum benefit of such initiatives and also thanked all the participants including the Judicial Officers, Secretaries of DLSA, Advocates, representatives of Insurance companies & banks, staff of the courts & Legal Services Institutions & litigants for their pragmatic approach in settlement of cases in such a large number. The second National Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
