26149 Cases came up in National Lok Adalat, Rs 58.31crore worth claims awarded in 10777 Cases in HP

National Lok Adalat for pre-litigation and pending matters was organized today under the patronage of Patron-in-Chief, Mr. Justice Mohammad Rafiq, Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and under  the innovative guidance of Ms. Justice Sabina, Judge, High Court of Himachal Pradesh, who is also Executive Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority(HPSLA) in all the courts in Himachal Pradesh.

Ms. Justice Sabina personally supervised the functioning of ongoing Lok Adalat at district court Shimla,  district court, Solan and sub-divisional Court, Kandaghat.

Due to innovative initiatives taken by Ms. Justice Sabina, the response to the national Lok Aadals today was overwhelming. As many as 26149 cases were taken up in the National Lok Adalat before different benches for settlement, out of which about 10777 cases were settled and disposed off across the state. The judges recovered/ awarded a sum of worth ₹ 58,3161371 to the claimants in these cases in the state, said a HPSLA official.

To ensure proactive participation of all stakeholders across the state,  Ms. Justice Sabina had chaired  a video conferencing with district Judges, Judicial Officers and secretaries, district legal services authorities held on 29^th November, 2021.

She had directed  the district judges and judicial officers to identify sufficient number of cases for Lok Adalat and take pro-active part in the settlement of cases referred with active involvement of Bar members.

Ms. Justice Sabina had ensured that they should  enhance disposal of cases in the Lok Adalat and emphasizing on an positive attitude in pursing the parties for amicable settlement   securing  larger participation of the Bar members in the settlement of cases before Lok Adalat.

Ms Justice Sabina had also emphasized that maximum pre-Lok Adalat or pre-Conciliation sittings be held to provide opportunities for negotiation to the parties to arrive at a compromise or settlement. “All the judicial officers were impressed upon to lay special emphasis on identification of old cases, motor accident claim cases, matrimonial cases, insurance matters, labour court matters, criminal compoundable matters”, she had asked.

Member secretary, HPSLA Prempal Ranta said the  schedule of the National Lok Adalats for the year 2022 has been circulated to all district and sub-divisional legal services authorities for wide publicity through media  to all stakeholders, panchayati raj institutions, functionaries of legal services institutions, PLVs, ASHA workers, Anganwari workers in order to secure the larger participation of litigant public in the upcoming National Lok Adalats for providing quick and timely justice to the litigants.

The schedule of the National Lok Adalats for the year 2022 see chart below)