Shimla. Himachal Pradesh is set to hold the fourth National Lok Adalat of the year on December 13, with nearly 84,000 cases lined up for amicable settlement across all courts in the state.
The drive is being carried out under the patronage of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who also heads the H.P. State Legal Services Authority, and under the guidance of Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Executive Chairman of the Authority.
Courts across the state have already identified thousands of pending matters — including civil disputes, bank recovery cases, insurance claims, and petty criminal cases — that can be resolved through compromise. Special emphasis has been laid on Motor Vehicle challan cases, with an online ePay facility made available for easy payment of compounding fees, especially in Traffic Magistrate courts.
To ensure maximum participation, the Authority has launched an extensive awareness drive using IEC material and by engaging local bodies, NGOs, PRIs, para-legal volunteers, and public transport services. Regular meetings with Bar Associations, insurance companies, banks, and financial institutions are being held to streamline case identification.
Officials said the cooperation of the media has always played a crucial role in spreading legal awareness.
They urged the press to widely publicize the December 13 Lok Adalat so that litigants can seize the opportunity to resolve their long-pending disputes quickly and amicably.