Dimapur, July 14 (MExN): National Lok Adalat was conducted in ten districts headquarter constituting ten Lok Adalat Benches. During the Lok Adalat held on July 14, 949 cases were listed before the bench for settlement of which 326 cases were successfully settled.
A press statement mentioned that the total settlement amount involved in the disposed and settled cases amounts to Rs. 2,47,68,521.00/- (Rupees two crore forty seven lakhs sixty eight thousand five hundred twenty one). The settlement amount includes the fine money, Bank recovery money, compensation money, etc. among the disposed cases, 39 cases which were presently pending in the courts at various levels were disposed of and 287 cases at pre-litigation stages i.e. prior to approaching the Courts were referred and disposed during the Lok Adalat sittings.
The Lok Adalat sitting benches were held within the premises of the District Court Buildings and prior to the holding of Lok Adalat, citizens were informed to come and settle their disputes/cases at the National Lok Adalat. District Legal Services Authorities has also been coordinating and sending communications to the Banks, the Insurance companies, Departments in the Public Utility sector and other parties and litigants for appearing before the National Lok Adalat for amicable settlement of disputes and cases.
Today’s cases referred and taken up for settlement were dealt mostly on Bank Recovery cases, Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) cases, Civil cases and also a few Cases on Criminal compoundable offenses cases which were both at per-litigation stage and pending stage, meaning the cases pending before the subordinate courts. During the proceedings, the officials of the District Legal Services Authorities has shown tremendous efforts and the officials of commercial Banks, Financial institution, insurance companies, litigants has put up sincere cooperation for amenable participation and settlement of cases in all fairness, expectations, voluntariness, neighborliness, transparency and lack of animosity.
Before commencing the Lok Adalat sittings, District Legal Services Authorities organised short awareness programmes, encouraging and apprising the public on the benefits of settling dispute through Lok Adalat. Judicial officers acted as presiding officers and the Panel Lawyers served as conciliators along with the Para legal Volunteers who acted as members. The proceedings were also conducted in local dialects for convenience of the uneducated litigants without stressing much on legal technicalities.
Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the Lok Adalat, the citizens has the privilege to dispose their case at free of cost with no court fee and Lawyer fee, quick and effective settlement/resolution of disputes and cases. Also the award (decision) pass before the Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil court, final and binding on all parties and no further appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
The statement added that this type of National Lok Adalat is held at regular intervals throughout the country and the Next National Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held on 8th of September, 2018. The State Legal Services Authorities act as the implementing agency which is statutory bodies constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act 1987.
