701 cases settled in Lok Adalat

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 8

As many as 701 cases out of 3,352 were settled at the National Lok Adalat organised at the District and Sessions Court here on Saturday.

The Lok Adalat was conducted on the directions of National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) where pending civil and criminal cases, appeals and pre-litigation cases were taken up.

Manila Chugh, Civil Judge (SD)/CJM-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bathinda, said for the disposal of cases 21 benches were constituted, including sub-divisions of Bathinda.

Around 129 cheque-bounce cases were disposed of by the special bench constituted for this purpose. It was also informed that litigants could appeal for taking up their pending cases at the monthly Lok Adalat, which is held on the last working Saturday of every month.

Under Section 19 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the Lok Adalats are organised to decide pending cases as well as those which are yet to be filed in courts.

A permanent lok adalat has been established at the ADR Centre, District Court, Bathinda, which deals with public utility service like transport, telephone, insurance, hospital, supply of power, light and water and Aadhaar card. The dispute of up to Rs 1 crore falling in these areas can be taken up at the permanent lok adalat.