National Lok Adalat settles over 18,000 cases in Panchkula

The National Lok Adalat was held at the District Courts Complex, Panchkula, and Subdivision Kalka on Saturday. A large number of cases were resolved through mutual settlement. The adalat was organised under the aegis of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA) with the objective of ensuring speedy, effective and affordable justice through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Sharing details of the proceedings, Ajay Kumar Ghanghas, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, ADR Centre, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Panchkula, said a total of 19,142 cases were taken up, out of which 18,339 were decided. The settlements resulted in a cumulative amount of Rs 1,21,97,648, offering substantial relief to litigants and reducing burden on regular courts.

To facilitate smooth participation, a special help desk was set up at the District Courts, Panchkula, to guide litigants. The help desk provided information regarding Lok Adalat benches, types of cases taken up, settlement procedures and other necessary assistance.

A wide range of matters were taken up, including civil disputes, compoundable criminal cases, revenue matters, traffic challans, motor accident claim cases, matrimonial disputes etc. Ajay noted that the Lok Adalat proved particularly beneficial for citizens looking to get traffic challan and minor dispute cases resolved. He added that awards passed by Lok Adalats were final and binding, with no provision for appeal.

23,731 cases settled, 10 couples reunited in Mohali

The year’s last and fourth National Lok Adalat disposed of 23,731 out of the 24,764 cases taken up in the district on Saturday. The cases were disposed by virtue of compromise and awards amounting to Rs 74, 86, 12, 447 that were passed by different Lok Adalat Benches, said District and Sessions Judge Atul Kasana.

He said the National Lok Adalat took up 24,764 pre-litigative and pending criminal compoundable offences, NI Act cases under Section-138, bank recovery cases, MACT cases, matrimonial disputes, labour disputes, land acquisition cases, electricity and water bills (excluding non-compoundable theft cases), service matters relating to pay and allowances and retiral benefits, revenue cases and other civil cases (rent, easmentary rights, injunction suits, specific performance suits).

Nearly 10 couples were reunited during today’s National Lok Adalat in the family courts. In the National Lok Adalat, 19 Benches were constituted at District Headquarters, while five at Kharar Subdivision and seven Derabassi Subdivision.

Awards worth over Rs 9 cr passed in Fatehgarh Sahib

District Legal Services Authority organised the fourth National Lok Adalat of the year on Saturday at the subdivision-level courts, in which 7,979 cases were heard by 12 benches, out of which 7,420 were disposed of with mutual consent and in cases of financial matters awards worth more than Rs 9 crores were passed.

District and Sessions Judge-cum- DLSA chairman Arun Gupta said people get great relief by settling cases through Lok Adalats, because here cases are settled with the mutual consent of both the parties, affording them quick and cheap justice.