Poor response to National Lok Adalat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

With advocates observing a strike, the National Lok Adalat today witnessed a lukewarm response at the District Courts with just 199 cases being settled.

The Benches headed by the serving judicial officers were constituted at the District Courts, Sector 43, Chandigarh. Cheque bounce cases under Section 138, Negotiable Instruments Act, recovery suits of banks, pre-litigative cases and other categories were taken up and disposed of with the consent of the parties.

This Lok Adalat disposed of 199 cases involving an amount of Rs 1,22,38,987. Traffic challans were also taken up at the National Lok Adalat. A total of 545 traffic challans were disposed of and a sum of Rs 1,41,200 was realised as fine.

SK Aggarwal, District & Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, and Lal Chand, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, visited the Benches constituted for the instant National Lok Adalat and provided assistance for amicable settlement of cases.

Lal Chand, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, said in order to help the litigants, public help desks were established by the State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, at the District Courts Complex, Chandigarh.

He said the twin objective of organising the National Lok Adalat was to address the backlog of cases in the courts across India and to make the public aware of the benefits of the settlement of their disputes through the intervention of the Lok Adalat.

He also said the award passed by the Lok Adalat is final having no provision for appeal and fully enforceable like any other decree of the court passed after contest.

He also pointed out that if a case is disposed of at the Lok Adalat through mutual settlement, the court fee is refunded to the party who had paid the same.

The advocates observed a strike today as they protested against the day being selected for the Lok Adalat. As per rules, second Saturday of every month is observed as an holiday at District Courts. Thus, the advocates refrained from work today. However, the Benches heard all cases that were listed today and work was only partially affected.