SRINAGAR: Reaffirming the commitment to provide quick, affordable, and amicable resolution of disputes, the Last National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 was successfully organized today across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir under the patronage of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority) and the dynamic mentorship of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, as well as under the able guidance of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.
The initiative aimed to promote amicable settlements in cases including MACT, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes, and compoundable criminal cases.
To ensure the maximum resolution of disputes, pre-Lok Adalat sittings and pre-counselling sessions were conducted well in advance, providing the parties with ample opportunity to engage in dialogue and reach a consensus for a permanent resolution. Additionally, webinars and virtual meetings were organised to sensitise stakeholders, officers of Legal Services Institutions, LADCs, Panel Lawyers, PLVs, and others involved in the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). These sessions emphasised the significance of Lok Adalats and encouraged parties to take full advantage of the opportunity.
As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts of UT of J&K, out of total 1,05,784 cases taken up by 186 Benches in the day long National Lok Adalat across the UT of J&K,91,750 cases were amicably settled and disposed off involving an amount of Rs. 76,65,59,134 as compensation/settlement amount in cases like Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery etc.
Special efforts were made to enhance participation, streamline pre-litigation settlements, and encourage litigants to opt for out-of-court resolutions.
The J&K Legal Services Authority will continue to strengthen the ADR mechanism, ensuring that justice reaches the doorstep of every individual, particularly the marginalised and underprivileged sections of society.
The Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority expressed gratitude to the Judiciary, Legal Services Institutions, District Administration, Advocates, and other stakeholders for their collective efforts in making the National Lok Adalat a success.