Jammu, Dec 09: The J&K Legal Services Authority successfully organized the 4th National Lok Adalat for the calendar year 2023 across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, following the mandate of NALSA (National Legal Services Authority). The event took place under the patronage of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority) and the dynamic leadership of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority), and Justice Sindhu Sharma, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.
Justice TashiRabstan, the Administrative Judge for district Jammu, inaugurated the 4th National Lok Adalat, emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration within the legal profession. The event witnessed warm floral welcome and the formal inauguration by dignitaries including Sanjay Parihar, Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Jammu, V. S Bhau, 1st Addl. District & Sessions Judge, Jammu, Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, PremSagar, Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, Anjum Ara, CJM Jammu, ParvinPandoh, Joint Registrar Judicial, Jammu, and Smriti Sharma, Secretary, DLSA Jammu.
During the National Lok Adalat, Justice Tashi supervised ongoing settlement proceedings, especially in bank recovery cases, and delivered compensation cheques to beneficiaries under Motor Accident Claims settled amicably. He interacted with advocates, representatives of banks, insurance companies, and the litigant public, expressing appreciation for their cooperation in settling pre-litigation matters.
Justice Tashi also intervened to successfully settle two matrimonial disputes by counseling the parties involved. The National Lok Adalat saw a significant turnout of litigants and stakeholders, indicating their confidence in the alternate dispute resolution mechanism.
A total of 1,07,869 cases were disposed of out of 1,21,018 cases taken up by 149 Benches during the day-long National Lok Adalat. An amount of Rs 73,73,52,092 was awarded as compensation/settlement amount in various categories, including Motor Accident Claims, civil, criminal, labor disputes, electricity and water bills cases, land acquisition, family matters, cheque dishonor, and bank recovery cases.
Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, commended the efforts of all judicial officers, secretaries DLSA’s, advocates, court staff, Legal Services Institutions, and litigants for their wholehearted participation in the National Lok Adalat. He also acknowledged the role of Para Legal Volunteers and the media in spreading awareness about the initiatives of Legal Services Authority for the welfare of marginalized sections of society. In the coming days, a fresh calendar of activities, including the dates for next year’s National and Special Lok Adalats, will be published.
