SHIMLA: ALL is set for an 'Utsav' of National Lok Adalat being organised in all the Courts in the State of Himachal Pradesh on 14th May 2022 in which over 32,587 matters have been identified for settlement. It is for the first time that national Lok Adalat is being held in snowbound Lahaul-Spiti to give relief to tribals.
The National Lok Adalat is being organised under the patronage of Patron-in-Chief Mr. Justice Mohammad Rafiq, Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and under the guidance of Ms Justice Sabina, Judge, High Court of Himachal Pradesh, who is also Executive Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority(HPSLSA).
Justice Sabina to monitor National Lok Adalat in Lahaul-Spiti on May 14
To make the Lok Adalat as an Utsav, Justice Sabina interacted with all the Judicial Officers of the State through Video Conferencing. She would be supervising Lok Adalats in some of the districts, especially at Keylong, district Headquarters of district Lahaul & Spiti.
Justice Sabina chose landlocked Lahaul-Spiti , where National Lok Adalat is being held for the first time. As many as 230 cases have been identified for settlement so far, informed Prem Pal Ranta, member-secretary, HPSLSA. In all, 32,587 matters have been identified for settlement before National Lok Adalat across the state, he said.
HPSLSA's Special Drive to Make National Lok Adalat as an Utsav
As per direction of Executive Chairperson, a special drive is being undertaken in the remote/tribal areas of districts of Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti as these areas remained snow covered during winter season.
Now all is set well for organising Lok Adalats for affording opportunity to the people of these areas for amicable settlement of disputes both at pre-litigation and post-litigation stage, Ranta said.
Major highlight of National Lok Adalat this time is that it is not only being organised but celebrated in the spirit of an Utasav all over the state.
In this regard, a special drive is also being undertaken for mass awareness about National Lok Adalat by associating local bodies, police, financial institutions, banks, NGOs, stakeholders, representatives of PRIs, PLVs, Asha/Anganwari workers, Public Transport Services etc.
Publicity material (pamphlets enclosed) was distributed amongst general public containing contact numbers of all eleven DLSAs for public convenience, so that maximum number of cases is identified, Ranta informed.
All Stakeholders are involved in this "Legal Utsav"
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, he said. Targets have been given to Judicial Officer for effective identifications of cases.
HPSLSA has made an appeal to litigant public through print and electronic media to participate in the coming National Lok Adalat in an enthusiastic manner.
In this respect, a pre-recorded audio message of the Member Secretary, HPSLSA is aired during the programmes of All India Radio, Shimla like Good Morning Shimla FM (7:20 AM to 8:20 AM, Daily and Good Morning Himachal (Prime Time, Noon & Evening on alternate days.
Print and Electronic Media is also a big Stakeholder in spreading legal awareness amongst the public at large and always rendering valuable services in this regard.
“We earnestly solicit a wide coverage of the event of the National Lok Adalat”, Ranta said. “The message about the upcoming National Lok Adalat will be spread widely so that the litigant public may avail appropriate opportunity to settle their disputes/claims before the National Lok Adalat on 14.05.2022”, Ranta Appealed.
