Legal Services Authorities Have Converted Pandemic Into An Opportunity By Successfully Holding National Lok Adalat : Justice Lalit

The Legal Services Authorities across the country, under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and guidance of Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA, organised the second National Lok Adalat in the year 2021 on 10.07.2021. The same was organised in both virtual and hybrid mode and was held in 32 SLSAs/HCLSCs all across the country.It was for the first time that Mr. Justice Lalit, Executive Chairman, NALSA himself monitored the working and functioning of Lok Adalats by way of virtual conferencing. In addition, Mr. Justice Lalit interacted with Presiding Officers of Lok Adalat Benches in the Districts Courts of Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), Gurugram (Haryana), Panchkula (Haryana), Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Noida (Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Thiruvellore (Tamil Nadu) and Kutch (Gujarat). He further oversaw the working and functioning of Lok Adalat Benches at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh (Amaravati) and interacted with Hon'ble Judges, who were presiding over the Lok Adalat at the High Court of Rajasthan (Jodhpur). Mr. Justice Lalit inquired about the type of cases taken up, disposal rates and subject matter. His Lordship laid emphasis on the aspect that National Lok Adalats are imperative to reduce the huge pendency in the justice system of the country.Across the country, the latest data available till 4:00 pm indicates that in 5,129 number of National Lok Adalat Benches, 35,53,717 cases were taken up out of which 22,50,473 were pre-litigation cases and 13,03,244 were pending cases. Over 11,42,415 cases were disposed of in a single day on 10.07.2021, indicating a huge achievement and success for the Legal Services Authorities. It was on account of the keen participation by the stakeholders that the Legal Services Authorities have been able to achieve this huge disposal. In order to ensure maximum settlement between the parties in cases like MACT, matrimonial, cheque bounce cases under NI Act, labour disputes, PUS, other civil cases, etc., it was stressed upon by Hon'ble Executive Chairman, NALSA to conduct Pre-Lok Adalat sittings or pre-counselling sessions well before the National Lok Adalat so that the parties may get one or more chances for entering into dialogue with opposite parties to get maximum number of settlements. To prepare for the same and to maximise the outcome of the National Lok Adalat, a preparatory Webinar was organised by the NALSA. The "National Lok Adalat: Challenges and way forward" webinar was aimed at the goal of sensitizing all the Chairpersons and Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities in order to ensure smooth and proper functioning of the National Lok Adalat. NALSA further directed the LSAs to observe COVID-19 protocol prevalent in the States/UTs as per the guidelines issued by the Government of India as well as State Governments. The National Lok Adalat in Kerala was preponed and was conducted on 09.07.2021 wherein a total of 39,361 cases were taken up (35,404 pending cases & 3,957 pre-litigation cases) out of which 26,118 cases were disposed of (25,150 pending cases & 968 pre-litigation cases). A settlement amount of Rs. 86.81 crore was awarded. The National Lok Adalat has been postponed in Maharashtra, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Karnataka and West Bengal for 01.08.2021, 18.07.2021, 14.08.2021, and 24.07.2021 respectively. The next National Lok Adalat will be held on 11th September, 2021.

Legal Services Authorities Have Converted Pandemic Into An Opportunity By Successfully Holding National Lok Adalat : Justice Lalit

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