Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 13: Reaffirming the commitment to provide quick, affordable and amicable resolution of disputes, the fourth and last National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 was successfully organised today across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the aegis of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority.
A statement said the Lok Adalat was held under the patronage of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority), to promote consensual settlement of disputes related to Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), matrimonial matters, cheque bounce cases, money recovery, commercial disputes and other compoundable cases.
While Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority provided mentorship during the Lok Adalat, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee, provided the necessary guidance, it said.
As per information received from Legal Services Institutions across the UT, a total of 1, 05, 784 cases were taken up by 186 benches during the day-long Lok Adalat.
Out of these, 91, 750 cases were amicably settled, involving a total settlement and compensation amount of Rs 76, 65, 59, 134.
In Jammu district, the National Lok Adalat was inaugurated under the chairmanship of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge High Court of J&K and Ladakh, at the District Court Complex, Janipur in the presence of Justice Sindhu Sharma, Judge high Court of J&K and Ladakh, and Administrative Judge for District Jammu and under the guidance of RN Watal, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (Principal District & Sessions Judge) Jammu and overall supervision of Maleeka Sharma, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Jammu.
On the occasion, Justice Sanjeev Kumar laid emphasis on the importance of alternative dispute resolution as a speedy and cost-effective justice delivery system.
Justice Sindhu Sharma said that the National Lok Adalat has an important role in resolving the cases by providing fast, affordable and accessible alternative to traditional courts in India and providing forum which promotes settlement through compromise and mutual agreement fostering harmony between parties and saving time and money for the litigants.
During the fourth National Lok Adalat in Jammu, 30 benches were constituted to deal with civil, criminal compoundable, bank recovery, MACT, matrimonial, Negotiable Instruments Act cases, revenue and other civil disputes.
A total of 3717 cases were taken up, of which 2522 were settled amicably, resulting in recovery of Rs 13, 34, 67, 277.
In District Udhampur, the fourth National Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship and supervision of Virinder Singh Bhou, Principal District and Sessions Judge, who is also the Chairman of DLSA Udhampur and Sumati Sharma, Secretary DLSA Udhampur.
Eleven benches were constituted across the district to take up cases of various categories including civil, criminal, MACT, revenue, matrimonial and cheque bounce matters.
Out of 1622 cases taken up, 1013 were settled amicably with the settlement of an amount of Rs 37272436.
Similar National Lok Adalats were also organised at Taluk Legal Services Committee courts in Ramnagar, Majalta and Chenani to ensure wider access to justice for litigants in remote areas.
In District Reasi, the fourth National Lok Adalat was organised under the supervision of Khalil Choudhary, Principal District & Sessions Judge Reasi, and Chairman DLSA and under the guidance of Pooja Gupta, Secretary DLSA Reasi.
Here, the Lok Adalat was held with active participation of judicial officers, district administration, advocates and para legal volunteers.
Sixteen benches were constituted, each dealing with different categories of cases including matrimonial disputes, NI Act cases, civil and criminal compoundable cases, bank recovery and pre-litigation matters.
During the Lok Adalat in Reasi, a total of 3065 cases were taken up, out of which 2402 were disposed of amicably. The total settlement amount realised was Rs 1, 59, 94, 215.
A free medical camp was also organised at the District Court Complex, where hundreds of people availed health check-ups and free medicines.
The fourth National Lok Adalat was also held successfully in District Kishtwar under the chairmanship of Principal District & Sessions Judge Sudhir Kumar Khajuria, where three benches were constituted to take up a wide range of disputes including criminal compoundable cases, matrimonial matters, civil disputes, labour cases, MACT and pre-litigation matters.
Out of 629 cases taken up, 528 cases were settled amicably and an amount of Rs 67, 10, 779 was awarded to claimants in MACT and other settled cases, providing significant relief to the beneficiaries and helping in reducing long-pending litigation.
In District Rajouri, the National Lok Adalat was held at the District Court Complex and other courts across the district under the chairmanship of Rajinder Sapru, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Rjaouri and Principal District & Sessions Judge, Rajouri.
Three benches were constituted at the district headquarters, while similar benches functioned at the tehsil level.
During the proceedings, 2395 cases were taken up, of which 1817 cases were disposed of amicably.
The settlements in Rajouri resulted in a compensation amount of Rs 1, 99, 26, 975.
The Lok Adalat also witnessed distribution of welfare benefits including wheelchairs, pension sanction letters and marriage assistance, reflecting the broader social outreach of the legal services institutions.
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