SHIMLA: As many as 85,500 cases were taken up in the National Lok Adalat (physical) before different benches for settlement, out of which about 29,433 cases were settled/ disposed off and ₹53.00 Crore (Rupees Fifty Three Crore only) was recovered/awarded in National Lok Adalat to the claimants.
’A National Lok Adalat for Pre-Litigation & Pending matters was organized ON Saturday in all the Courts in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
The Adalat was held under the able and innovative guidance of Hon’ble Sh. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Executive Chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority.
As per directions of the Hon’ble Sh. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Executive Chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, a Special Online Lok Adalat, for MV Challans cases at Pre-litigation Stage along with National Lok Adalat was also organised in coordination with H.P. Police Department and Department of Transport. H.P. Police Department used online portal for sending SMS messages to the parties and also for online deposit of compounding fee.
Online facility for payment of compounding fee through ePay (eCourts Digital Payment) was also provided in case of MV Challans particularly in the Courts of Traffic Magistrates.
The litigant public was made aware of the National Lok Adalat through SMS messages, jingles and distribution of IEC material and spreading awareness by associating local bodies Stakeholders, NGOs, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Para Legal Volunteers, Public Transport Services, said Prem Pal Ranta, member secretary, HPSLSA.
Hon’ble Sh. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Executive Chairman, H.P. State Legal Services Authority personally supervised proceedings taking place before the Lok Adalat Benches of National Lok Adalat at District Headquarter Mandi and also interacted with stakeholders/litigants.
2,00,105 Motor Vehicle Challan cases were taken-up in the on-line Lok Adalat, out of which, 6950 were compounded and a compounding fee of ₹69,80,100/- was collected.
Next National Lok Adalat will be held on 9th September, 2023.
The Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and Executive Chairman, H.P. State Legal Services Authority also inaugurated the offices of Legal Aid Defence Counsel System in Mandi at District Headquarters. Legal Aid Defence Counsel System provides for rendering legal aid, assistance and representation in criminal matters in line with “Public Defender System”.
The court based legal services need to be strengthen for providing effective and efficient legal services to the weaker and marginalised sections of the society.
As envisaged, Legal Aid Defence Counsel System involve full time engagement of lawyers with support system and to deal exclusively with legal aid work in criminal matters at District Headquarters initially and subject to feasibility, the services may be extended to Talukas or Online Courts.
