SHIMLA: As many as 24008 cases were settled or disposed off and compensation amount worth ₹69.32 Crore was recovered or awarded to the claimants in the National Lok Adalat held in a Utsav-like spirit in all the courts in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday today.
This is a record number of cases settled in this National Lok Adalat- the highest after the year 2015.
What is noteworthy is that all the stakeholders participated in the National Lok Adalat in a Utsav-like spirit and came forward to settle their pending cases.
National Lok Adalat is held at a time when India is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, with HPSLSA taking the special drive right into the remote and nearby territories of the claimants, making their "access to justice easier and earlier".
According to the member secretary HP State Legal Services Authority(HPSLSA), Prem Pal Ranta about 48,354 cases were taken up for settlement in the National Lok Adalat before different benches across the state.
All in all, 24008 cases were settled or disposed off and compensation amount of ₹69.32 Crore was recovered or awarded to the claimants in the National Lok Adalat, he informed.
The National Lok Adalat for pre-litigation and pending matters was organized under the patronage of Patron-in-Chief Mr Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed, Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal Pradesh and under the guidance of Mrs. Justice Sabina, Judge, High Court of Himachal Pradesh, who is also the Executive Chairperson, HPSLSA.
The large turnout was due to efforts put in by the Executive Chairperson. She hold video conferencing with the Judicial Officers, laid emphasis on effective identification and disposal of cases before National Lok Adalat.
All the Judicial Officers were also impressed upon to identify old cases, motor accident claims cases, matrimonial cases, insurance matters, labour court matters, criminal compoundable matters for settlement in the National Lok Adalat today.
As directed by the Executive Chairperson, HPSLA launched a special drive, identified the cases of Negotiable Instrument Act upto the value Rs 10 Lakhs, Family Matters, Petty Offences, old and infective cases and Criminal Compoundable cases for amicable settlement in the National Lok Adalats.
This time National Lok Adalat was organised and celebrated in the spirit of an Utsav all over the state.
“HPSLA also launched a mass awareness campaign about National Lok Adalat. Local bodies, police, financial institutions, banks, NGOs, stakeholders, representatives of PRIs, PLVs, Asha/Anganwari workers, Public Transport Services were roped in to make national Lok Adalat a success, said Ranta.
Not only this, IEC material worth 50,000 pamphlets was distributed among the populace and stakeholders to encourage their participation in the National Lok Adalat.
The wide publicity was given in print and electronic media, so that maximum number of cases are identified.
Ranta informed that next National Lok Adalat will be held on 12th November, 2022.
As per directions of Executive Chairperson, special Lok Adalats will be held for Motor Vehicle Challans and Negotiable Instruments Act cases in areas where pendency is more, he added.
