Ist National Lok Adalat, 2024 held in Kashmir Division for amicable settlement of cases

SRINAGAR, MARCH 09: Under the guidance of the Chief Justice of High Court of J&K and Ladakh, & Patron in Chief JK Legal Services Authority, Justice N. Kotiswar Singh; and Executive Chairman Justice Tashi Rabstan, the District Legal Services Authorities of Kashmir Division today organised 1st Lok Adalat of the year to settle the cases amicably among the litigants.

The Cases for settlement included cases of Civil, Criminal Compoundable, Cheque bounce, Bank matters, MACT, Land Compensation, Matrimonial, Electricity and Pre-litigation matters.

At Baramulla, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in collaboration with Tehsil Legal Services Committees of Baramulla, held National Lok Adalat at District Court Complex Baramulla as well as at Tehsil headquarters.

The Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Mohammad Ashraf Malik, Principal District & Sessions Judge and under the supervision of Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon, Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Special Mobile Magistrate Baramulla.

During the course of the Lok Adalat Pre-Litigation cases like NI Act under Section 138, Bank Recovery, Labour disputes, Electricity and Water bills and others were taken up for the resolution.

Also, cases that were pending in courts including Criminal Compoundable offence, NI Act under section 138, Bank Recovery, MACT, Land Acquisition, Matrimonial and other civil cases were brought before the Lok Adalats for amicable settlement.

While inaugurating the Lok Adalat, Mohammad Ashraf underscored Lok Adalat’s significance in resolving disputes outside conventional court systems and highlighted the effectiveness of the Lok Adalats in resolving substantial, long-pending cases that have been lingering in courts for long periods.

The Lok Adalat comprised 08 Benches in District Baramulla with 04 benches at DLSA Baramulla and 01 Bench each at Sopore, Tangmarg, Uri and Pattan. A total 1103 different cases/ matters were taken up in which 774 different Cases/matters were amicably settled. An amount of Rs. 4,56,26,515 was realized through the settled cases.

At Budgam, the National Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Khalil Ahmad Choudhary Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairman District Legal Services Authority Budgam, at District Court Complex Budgam.

Each Court had identified cases for Lok Adalat beforehand and same were placed before Six different benches constituted by DLSA Budgam for their settlement in National Lok Adalat.

Cases for settlement included cases of Civil, Criminal Compoundable, Cheque bounce, Bank matters, MACT, Land Compensation, Matrimonial, Electricity and Pre-litigation matters. Further, Pre-litigation matters were taken up, which included PDD matters, bank recovery matters, PHE cases, Social Welfare Schemes, Labour, Revenue, Matrimonial disputes, land disputes, BSNL cases, municipality cases and other Government schemes etc.

Nonetheless, a total number of 1152 matters were taken up for their amicable settlement, out of which 427 matters were settled. Besides, an amount of Rs 43735701 was realized in total in the settlement.

At Kulgam, National Lok Adalat was held today in District Court Complex Kulgam, and other Taluka Courts of District Kulgam under the Chairmanship of Mohd Ashraf Bhat, Pr. District and Session Judge and Chairman District Legal Services Authority, Kulgam.

National Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Pr. District and Session Judge Kulgam in presence of Presiding Officer Fast Track Court Kulgam, Chief Judicial Magistrate Kulgam, Sub Judge/Secretary District Legal Services Authority Kulgam, and Additional Mobile Magistrate Kulgam.

During the Lok Adalat, five Benches were constituted, three at Head quarter & one each at D. H. Pora and Qazigund. 332 cases related to MACT Cases, Family Disputes, Revenue cases, Traffic Challans, Bank Cases, Electricity cases, and Water bills were taken up. Out of which 74 cases were amicably settled while an amount of Rs.4800992 was awarded in different cases.

At Kupwara, the said Lok Adalat was held under the supervision of Chairperson, District Legal Services Authority and  Pr. District & Session Judge, Kupwara, Shazia Tabasum and guidance of Secretary, DLSA Kupwara, Manzoor Ahmad Khan. Four Benches were constituted for the Lok Adalat comprising of Presiding Officers and members for the amicable settlement or compromise of the cases.

A total number of 458 cases were taken up by all the benches, of which 327 cases were disposed as settled on spot by intervention of the benches and by participation of the lawyers and litigants. A total sum of Rs. 45,23,400 was awarded to the aggrieved parties by settlement during the said National Lok Adalat.

Lawyers and litigants participating in the Special Lok Adalat expressed their joy in early disposal of the cases through mutual settlement and appreciated the arrangements of the Special Lok Adalat.

At Shopian, 1st National Lok Adalat was held at  District Court Complex Shopian under the Chairmanship of Riaz-Ul-Haq Mirza, Chairman District Legal Services Authority and Principal District & Session Judge, Shopian.

For the said National Lok Adalat, 03 Benches were constituted by the DLSA during which a total no of 222 Cases related to recovery suits, Traffic Challan’s, Civil Cases, MACT Cases, Matrimonial Cases, Criminal Compoundable cases and other civil cases were taken up, out of which 83 Cases were settled amicably with a settlement amount Rs.73,69,418.