SHIMLA: As many as 85616 cases were taken up in the National Lok Adalat before different benches across the state for settlement. Out of this number, about 38274 cases were settled or disposed off and compensation worth over ₹64.12 Crore was recovered or awarded to the claimants in this National Lok Adalat today.
Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority(HPSLA) organised the National Lok Adalat for Pre-Litigation & Pending matters in all the Courts in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.
It was under active guidance of Smt. Justice Sabina, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh, who is also Executive Chairperson, HPSLA.
To make the National Lok Adalat more interactive, Smt Justice Sabina personally supervised proceedings taking place before the Lok Adalat Benches at District Headquarter Kullu and Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee, Manali and also interacted with stakeholders/litigants.
Main highlight of the National Lok Adalat was also a Special Online Lok Adalat that aimed to settle the MV Challans cases at Pre-litigation Stage.
HPSLA’s member secretary, Prem Pal Ranta, who is also the District and Sessions Judge said the special National Lok Adalat was organised by bringing H.P. Police Department and Department of Transport. H.P. Police Department on board.
Over 2,00,000 SMS were sent to violators, out of which 4000 cases were disposed off and a compounding fee of ₹41,42,900/- was collected, he informed.
They used online portal for sending SMS messages to the parties and also for online deposit of compounding fee.
He said it was due to concerted campaign on mass and social media that a large turnover of cases was witnessed across the state.
The stakeholders got the Online facility for payment of compounding fee through ePay (eCourts Digital Payment) in connection with the MV Challans particularly in the Courts of Traffic Magistrates.
As directed the Acting Chief Justice HPSLA identified cases for disposal before National Lok Adalat.
“All the Judicial Officers were also impressed upon to identify old cases, motor accident claim cases, matrimonial cases, insurance matters, labour court matters, criminal compoundable matters”, Ranta said.
Expressing his gratitude, Ranta said it was also due to the active role played by the Judicial Officers and legal fraternity of Himachal that the national Lok Adalat was a grand success today.
He said HPSLA roped in litigant public 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.
Next National Lok Adalat will be held on 13th May, 2023.
"We hope it will be as successful and will help achieve the end of justice to the public", Ranta said.