SHIMLA:   Over  44000 cases have been identified  that would be taken up in the National Lok Adalat being organised in all the Courts of Himachal Pradesh on May 13, 2023.

“Besides this, traffic police have targeted more than Three Lakh Challan cases for settlement in the upcoming on line National Lok Adalat”, informed Prem Pal Ranta, member-secretary, HPSLSA.

This figure will go up as the different courts and judicial officers are making efforts to bring the litigants on board to settle the prelitigation and pending matters in the state, he said. 

The national Lok Adalat is being organised under the direction the acting Chief Justice  Tarlok Singh Chauhan, who is also the Executive Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority(HPSLSA),

This Authority has coordinated with the HP Police Department and Department of Transport for maximum  identification and effective settlement of MV Challans and Petty Offences at the Pre-litigation stage.

The police is sending SMS to the persons to settle the cases  by paying the compounding fees Online without coming to the court. Ranta said. 

The Offenders of MV Challan Cases and Petty Offences will receive the summons/notice through an SMS on their registered Mobile Number/their address to settle their case in the Lok Adalat.

The stakeholders will get facility ePay (eCourts Digital Payment) for online payment of compounding fee/fine of cases pending in the traffic magistrates.

“This will enable them to settle their cases at home by paying the compounding fee/fine without any physical appearance before the compounding authority or the court”, Ranta said.

To create mass awareness, HPSLSA has  associated local bodies, police, financial institutions, banks, NGOs, stakeholders, representatives of PRIs, PLVs, Asha/Anganwari workers, Public Transport Services.

Ranta said regular meetings are taking place with Local Bar Associations, Insurance Companies, Banks, other Financial Institutions, Local Bodies, Police, NGOs, Various Government Departments and other Stakeholders for effective identification and settlement of cases.

Targets have been given to Judicial Officer for effective identification and settlement of cases.

An appeal is being made to the litigant public through print and electronic media and epapers to participate in the coming National Lok Adalat in an enthusiastic manner.

“We expect National Lok Adalat will reach out to the litigant public  to avail this opportunity to settle their disputes/claims before the National Lok Adalat”, Ranta said.