Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: Reaffirming the commitment to provide quick, affordable, and amicable resolution of disputes, the First National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 was successfully organized today across Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir under the patronage of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority) and the mentorship of Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, as well as under the guidance of Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.
The initiative aimed to promote amicable settlements in cases including MACT, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes and compoundable criminal cases.
To ensure the maximum resolution of disputes, pre-Lok Adalat sittings and pre-counseling sessions were conducted well in advance, providing the parties with ample opportunity to engage in dialogue and reach a consensus for a permanent resolution. Additionally, webinars and virtual meetings were organized to sensitize stakeholders, officers of Legal Services Institutions, LADCs, Panel Lawyers, PLVs, and others involved in the promotion of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). These sessions emphasized the significance of Lok Adalats and encouraged parties to take full advantage of the opportunity.
As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts of UT of J&K, out of total 1,99,853 cases taken up by 165 Benches in the day long National Lok Adalat across J&K, 1,88,422 cases were amicably settled and disposed off involving an amount of Rs. 59,04,49,391 as compensation/ settlement amount in cases like Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, Electricity and Water Bills, Land Acquisition, Family matters, cheque dishonor and Bank Recovery etc.
This National Lok Adalat marked a significant milestone as it was the first such event after Shazia Tabassum, District & Sessions Judge, took charge as Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority.
Speaking to media persons on the occasion, Shazia Tabassum emphasized the crucial role of Lok Adalats in reducing case pendency and ensuring speedy justice. She highlighted that dispute resolution through Lok Adalats not only saves time and resources for litigants but also fosters a culture of amicable settlements, ensuring long-term societal harmony.
She also announced that the second National Lok Adalat of the year will be held on Saturday May 10, 2025, and a Special Lok Adalat for Consumer Cases will be organized on April 26, 2025. Litigants who could not have their cases listed in today’s Lok Adalat or were unable to settle their disputes for any reason are encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity in the upcoming Lok Adalats.
In the National Lok Adalat organized by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Anantnag, 9,698 cases out of 10,183 taken up across the district were resolved. A total of Rs 1,62,78,285 was amicably settled in various cases.
The cases taken up included civil disputes, cheque bounce cases, compoundable criminal cases, matrimonial disputes, money recovery cases, traffic challans, bank disputes and pre-litigation matters.
The Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Justice Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Administrative Judge for District Anantnag.
He commenced proceedings at the Sub Judge Court Bijbehara in the presence of Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairman DLSA Tahir Khurshid Raina, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Fakhruddin Hamid, Sub Judge Bijbehara Tabassum Qadir Parray, bar members and litigants.
On the occasion, Justice Koul also inaugurated a baby-feeding room for female litigants, ensuring a more accessible environment for women. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to establish a dedicated washroom for female advocates and litigants to reinforce gender-sensitive initiatives.
Later, Justice Koul visited District Court Complex and distributed Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) compensation awards.
In the National Lok Adalat held at Udhampur under the chairmanship and supervision of Virinder Singh Bhou, Chairman DLSA/ Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Udhampur and Dr Smriti Sharma, Secretary DLSA Udhampur, a total of 1288 cases pertaining to different nature were taken up, out of which 827 cases were settled.
In the National Lok Adalat held at Rajouri under the chairmanship of Rajinder Sapru, Principal District and Sessions Judge, a total of 914 cases were taken up and 425 were settled. Moreover, compensation amount of Rs 2,21,99,336 was realized.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
