3,236 cases settled in Lok Adalats

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 22

A total of 3,236 cases involving award of Rs 18.03 crore were settled and disposed of during National Lok Adalats held in various courts in the state on Sunday.

A National Lok Adalat for pre-litigation and pending matters was held with a view to reducing the number of pending cases and resolving these on the basis of agreement between the parties. The adalat was held under the guidance of Justice Sanjay Karol, Acting Chief Justice and Executive Chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority.

A total of 8,885 cases, including 2,159 pre-litigation and 6,726 pending matters, were taken up during Lok Adalat by different benches all over the state.

A total of 3,236 cases were settled. The State Legal Services Authority will also organise such Lok Adalats for providing quick and timely justice to the litigants. The date for the next National Lok Adalat has been fixed for July 14.

Justice Karol said there was need to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanism as a large number of cases were pending in the courts. “Lok Adalat is indeed people’s court which deals with civil cases and disputes concerning matrimony, land, partition and property, labour, commercial and non-commercial and compoundable criminal cases,” he said.

Pre-litigation cases are also taken up and settled in Lok Adalats.

Member Secretary, HP State Legal Services Authority, said justice was dispensed in Lok Adalats without too much emphasis on legal technicalities. The cases are settled with the consent of parties in a speedy manner. No court fee is payable and if court fee is already paid, the amount is refunded if the dispute is settled in Lok Adalat.