Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Jan 24: In a significant move to expedite justice, the first special Lok Adalat of 2025, focusing on the amicable settlement of MACT (Motor Accident Claims Tribunal) and Bank Recovery cases, was successfully held across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir today.
Under the patronage of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, the event saw a notable effort to reduce the burden on various tribunals and courts.
The Lok Adalat was organized with the guidance of Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Chairperson of the High Court Legal Services Committee, and aimed to provide a speedy resolution for pending cases.
A total of 505 cases were addressed during the event, with 125 cases pertaining to MACT and Bank Recovery successfully settled.
These settlements amounted to Rs 2,46,68,953, offering considerable relief to the involved litigants.
The outcome was hailed as a significant success, showcasing the efficacy of the Lok Adalat system in providing accessible justice.
Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary of the J&K Legal Services Authority, stated that the next Special Lok Adalat will be held on February 22, 2025, focusing on Traffic Challans and Electricity Bill disputes.
He urged both advocates and litigants to take advantage of such opportunities, which aim to offer faster resolutions for ongoing cases.
In Jammu, the Special Lok Adalat focused on both MACT and Bank Recovery cases was chaired by YP Bourney, Principal District & Sessions Judge of Jammu, under the supervision of Smriti Sharma, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority.
The Jammu Bench was divided into three panels, each assigned to different categories of cases.
Bench 1, headed by Chain Lal Bavouria, PO MACT Jammu, and Gurdeep Singh Gill, Panel Lawyer, dealt with MACT cases, while Bench 2, led by Kamlesh Pandita, Additional District Judge, Bank Court Jammu, and Karan Nagpal, Panel Lawyer, focused on Bank Recovery cases.
The third Bench, led by Rajni Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge Anti-Corruption, and Shahla Rafiqi, Panel Lawyer, also worked on MACT cases.
In total, 34 cases were taken up in Jammu, of which 16 were successfully settled, recovering a sum of Rs 1,10,95,000.
The efforts of judicial officers, advocates, para-legal volunteers, and the media in raising awareness about these initiatives were appreciated.
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