National Lok Adalat organized in the District Court Chandigarh

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

Under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority, the State Legal Services Authority alongwith District Legal Services Authority, U.T., Chandigarh organized National Lok Adalat on 12.03.2022 in the District Court, Sector 43, Chandigarh. Necessary directions regarding the safety of litigants, staff and Judicial officers of the Court during the current situation of pandemic issued by the competent authority have been adhered to.

Fifteen benches headed by the serving Judicial Officers were constituted in the District Courts, Sector-43, Chandigarh. Criminal Compoundable cases, cases under Section 138 of N.I.Act, Bank Recovery cases, MACT Cases, Matrimonial Disputes, Labour Disputes, Arbitration matters, other Civil Cases, Municipal Matters and Traffic Challans were taken up and disposed off with the consent of the parties.

In today’s National Lok Adalat total 1748 cases were disposed off by the benches of serving Judicial Officers constituted in New District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Chandigarh which include 10 Criminal Compoundable case involving an amount of Rs.2,000/-, 908 cases under Section 138 of N.I. Act involving an amount of Rs.2,65,42,705/-, 20 Motor Accident Claim cases involving an amount of Rs.1,50,55,945/-, 43 Matrimonial/Family Disputes, 124 Civil Suits and Rent Cases involving an amount of Rs.1,23,65,687/-, 64 Executions involving an amount of Rs.99,31,402/-, 01 Criminal Revision, 35 Crl. Misc. involving an amount of Rs.16,000/-, 21 Civil Misc. involving an amount of Rs.98,76,610/-, 99 Arbitration cases involving an amount of Rs.2,08,94,113/-, 02 Civil/Rent Appeals, 41 cases of 125 Cr.P.C., 31 cases of D.V. Act, 22 Untrace cases, 08 Municipal Matter, 56 cases of Registrar of Companies Act/Shop Act involving an amount of Rs.5,60,800/-, 03 Criminal Appeals involving an amount of Rs.2,60,707/-, 09 cases of Guardian Act, 251 Traffic Challans were also disposed of by imposing a fine of Rs.4,80,400/-.

In addition to the above, 224 cases involving an amount of Rs.22,28,556/- were disposed of by Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), 38 pre-litigative cases involving an amount of Rs.19,37,759/-, 18 Labour Dispute Cases involving an amount of Rs.9,67,243/- and 47 Cases involving an amount of Rs.1,87,30,793/- were disposed of by 03 Benches of State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.

On the occasion of National Lok Adalat, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court cum Executive Chairperson, State Legal Services Authority, visited the Court Complex and interacted with all the Judicial Officers. She asked about the cases that had taken up and the efforts that had been put in to ensure maximum disposal of cases.

It has also been decided by Hon’ble Ms Justice Ritu Bahri, that a Counselling Center be set up in the office of District Legal Services Authority. The counselling centre will focus on prelitigation cases from Women Cell and Helplines, and matrimonial and other dispute cases pending in courts. Justice Ritu Bahri had a in-depth discussion with Dr. Aarzoo Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, GMCH, Sector 32 regarding the details of the centre and has desired that the Government Medical College and Hospital work closely for this Counselling Centre. The Counselling centre will be set up shortly in the office of DLSA.

During this National Lok Adalat, a survey was conducted by National Legal Services Authority, titled “Understanding Lok Adalat: A NALSA and World Bank Combined Study”. The survey was conducted with the assistance of students from the Department of Laws, University Institute of Legal Studies and Department of Human Rights. The survey was conducted by using the NALSA Mobile application. A total of 18 students participated in the survey.

Hon’ble Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri, Executive Chairperson, State Legal Services Authority, Gurbir Singh, District & Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, Surender Kumar, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, U.T, Chandigarh and Ashok Kumar Mann, Secretary, District Legal Service Authority, Chandigarh thanked for making this Lok Adalat a success and further appealed to resolve their disputes through the Lok Adalats as it provides quick and economical justice.