National Lok Adalat held in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Sept 18: A National Lok Adalat, under supervision of Supreme Court and High Court of J&K and Ladakh, was organized in District Courts of Poonch.
Judicial Officers, Bar Members, Bank Employees, litigants and general public participated in the Lok Adalat with full enthusiasm.
While starting Lok Adalat, the Chairman District Legal Service Authority Poonch Ashok Kumar Shavan (Pr. Distt. & Sessions Judge) highlighted the positive aspects of Lok Adalat and described it as the need of the hour and stressed upon general public to come forward to take benefit of these Lok Adalat.
At District H.Q, three benches were constituted. First bench was presided over by Ashok Kumar Shavan, Chairman DLSA (Pr. Distt &Sessions Judge) Poonch and assisted by Advocate Mahroof Khan President Bar Poonch.
The Second Bench was presided by Madan Lal CJM (Chairman TLSC Poonch) and assisted by Wajahat Hussain Kazmi Secretary DLSA Poonch. Third Bench was presided by Sarfraz Nawaz Special mobile magistrate Poonch and assisted by Abdul Majid Advocate vice President Bar Poonch.
The Surankote bench was presided over by Manzoor Ahmed Khan, Chairman TLSC and assisted by Tabraiz Ahmed, Adll. Munsif Court Surankote, while the Mendhar bench was presided by Shazia Choudhary, Chairman TLSC (JMIC).
A total 187 cases, including civil, criminal, MACT, Bank Recovery, Pre-Litigation and other cases were taken up in the Lok Adalat, of which 147 cases were settled by way of Mediation, Conciliation and compromise. Three MACT cases, 50 Criminal cases, 17 civil cases were also decided and a total amount of Rs. 1698900 was settled. Light refreshment was also served to all the participants.