STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: As a part of calendar of activities for the year 2024 prepared by J&K Legal Services Authority, a Special Lok Adalat was organized throughout the U.T of J&K, on Saturday, under the leadership of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh & Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority and under the guidance of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority as well as Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.
The focus for today’s Special Lok Adalat was on amicable settlement of Criminal Compoundable cases. As per the information received from various districts of U.T of J&K, a total of 20648 Criminal Compoundable cases were taken up in the Special Lok Adalat organized by various courts across the UT of J&K, out of which 19857 cases were settled amicably and finally disposed of with settlement amount of Rs. 1, 66,51, 816/-.
Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority while talking to media persons informed that this is the first Special Lok Adalat of the current calendar year and as per the schedule of activities prepared for the current calendar year, the next special lok Adalat shall be conducted on Saturday, February 17, 2024, focusing on quick settlement of Cheque Bounce Cases. He further added that another Special Lok Adalat shall be held on Friday, February 23, 2024, which will focus on the quick settlement of Consumer cases pending disposal in different consumer forums within the U.T of J&K. He urged the Advocates in general and the litigants in particular to take maximum benefit of such Special Lok Adalats which are being organized by the J&K Legal Services Authority.
Gupta appreciated the efforts of all the Judicial Officers, Secretaries DLSA’s, Advocates, staff of the district and tehsil courts as well as Legal Services Institutions besides litigants for their whole hearted participation in the Special Lok Adalat and facilitating settlement of cases in such a large number. He also acknowledged the role of Para Legal Volunteers and the media, both print and electronic in creating and spreading awareness amongst the masses about such initiatives of Legal Services Authority.
Meanwhile, in pursuance to the J&K Legal Service Authority calendar for the year 2024, a Special Lok Adalat was held across all the districts of Kashmir, by the respective District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), for amicable settlement of cases of Criminal Compoundable nature.
The Lok Adalat was held under the directions of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron in Chief), J&K Legal Services Authority and Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority.
Lok Adalat for criminal compoundable cases serves as a transformative mechanism for resolving disputes and promoting social harmony. By providing a platform for parties to settle their differences amicably, Lok Adalats contribute to a more just, peaceful, and equitable society. Lok Adalats continue to be an integral part of the justice delivery system, by virtue of their commitment to resolve disputes promptly and affordably and also alleviating the burden on the formal court system.
In Srinagar, the District Legal Services Authority Srinagar organized a Lok Adalat for the amicable settlement of criminal compoundable cases at the District Court Complex Mominabad Srinagar.
The Lok Adalat was held under the direction and supervision of Jawad Ahmed, Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority (Pr. District & Sessions Judge) Srinagar.
Three benches were constituted for the said Lok-Adalat for the amicable settlement of criminal compoundable cases.
Overall 63 number of cases were taken up for settlement out of which 54 cases were amicably settled and Rs. 88300 was awarded as settlement amount in Criminal Compoundable Cases.
At Budgam, the District Legal Services Authority Budgam organized a Lok Adalat for the amicable settlement of criminal compoundable cases at the District Court Complex Budgam.
Under the insightful directions of Hon’ble Chairman Khalil Ahmad Chowdhary, Special Lok Adalat on Criminal Compoundable cases was organized in District Court Complex Budgam and Taluka Courts of District Budgam.
Each Court had identified cases for the said Lok Adalat beforehand and same were placed before Four (04) different benches constituted by DLSA Budgam for their settlement in Special Lok Adalat.
On the occasion, a total number of 60 matters were taken up for their amicable settlement, out of which 47 matters were settled. Besides, an amount of Rs. 674300 was realized in total in the settlement.
At Ganderbal, in a mammoth exercise to settle cases, the District Legal Services Authority Ganderbal in collaboration with Tehsil Legal Services Committee Ganderbal and Kangan conducted Lok-Adalat in District Ganderbal.
The Lok-Adalat was held under the supervision and chairmanship of Ritesh Kumar Dubey, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Pr. District & Sessions Judge) Ganderbal, and under the guidance of Nusrat Ali Hakak, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Ganderbal.
The Lok-Adalat was constituted of two benches for the amicable settlement of cases.
Overall 33 cases were taken up for settlement out of which 28 cases were amicably settled/compromised on spot. Rs. 9,500 was awarded as settlement amount.
At Pulwama, A General Lok-Adalat for Criminal Compoundable cases was organized in District Court and other subordinate courts of District Pulwama.
The Lok Adalat was held under the Chairmanship of Naseer Ahmad Dar, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Pr.District & Sessions Judge), Pulwama and under the supervision of Susheel Singh Secretary DLSA Pulwama.
A total of 75 cases were taken up by 04 benches in the district, out of which 34 cases were amicably settled in the said Lok-Adalat. An amount of Rs 15,200 was realized as settlement amount in all cases.
At Kupwara, the District Legal Services Authority Kupwara today organized a Lok Adalat under the supervision of Chairman District Legal Services Authority, (Pr. District & Session Judge) Kupwara Shazia Tabasum, here.
A total of 04 Benches were constituted for the said Lok Adalat comprising of Presiding Officers and Other Members for amicable settlement/ compromise of the referred cases.
Out of the total cases taken up (25 cases) before all the benches in the National Lok Adalat, 08 cases were settled on spot by intervention of the benches and by participation of the lawyers and litigants. The settled cases included cases from Criminal Compoundable, NI Act and Traffic Challans etc., which led to a total settlement of the amount to the tune of Rs 134750.
