National Lok Adalat held across Kashmir

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 08: A National Lok Adalat regarding all types of cases was organized today in all the districts of Kashmir.

At Srinagar the Lok Adalat was organised by District Legal Services Authority Srinagar under the Chairmanship of Mohammad Akram Chowdhary Principal District & Sessions Judge Srinagar at District Court Complex Moominabad Srinagar.

The Lok Adalat was inaugurated by Justice Alok Aradhe Executive Chairman J&K State Legal Services Authority in presence of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Member of National Legal Services Authority of India/Chairman of J&K High Court Legal Services Committee and Administrative Judge for District Srinagar.

Both the Judges on this occasion impressed upon the parties present to go for amicable settlement through negotiations and conciliation instead of resorting to adversarial litigation. On this occasion Member Secretary State Legal Services Authority Yash Pal Bourney and Director State Judicial Academy Abdul Rashid Malik were present.

On this occasion seven benches for taking different types of cases had been constituted and these benches had taken up 2677 cases out of which 2381 cases were amicably settled on spot and total settlement amount of Rs. 1,39,66,057/- was realized.

Bench No.1 was presided over by Principal District Judge Srinagar Mohammad Akram Chowdhary and assisted by Presiding Officer Motor Accident Claims Tribunal Srinagar Subash Chander Gupta, which had taken up 30 cases out of which 17 cases were amicably settled and an amount of Rs. 1,04,37,000/- was granted as compensation on this occasion.

Bench No. 2 was presided over by President District Consumer Protection Forum Srinagar Mohammad Ashraf Malik, who was assisted by Advocate Member Farah Deeba. This bench had taken up 112 cases out of which 21 cases were amicably settled and compensation to the tune of Rs. 8,38,105/- was granted.

Bench No.3 was constituted to taken up all the civil and criminal matters referred by District and Sessions Courts. The bench was presided over by Additional District & Sessions Judge, Srinagar Parvaiz Hussain Kachroo, who was assisted by City Munsiff Srinagar Tabasum. This bench had taken up 24 cases, out of which 2 cases were amicably settled and compensation to the tune of Rs. 6,00,000/- was granted.

Bench No. 4 dealt with Bank Recovery cases which was presided over by 2nd Additional District Judge Srinagar Tahir Khursheed Raina and assisted by Forest Magistrate, Srinagar Mohammad Rafiq Chak. This bench had taken up as many as 108 cases pre and post litigation cases out of which 20 cases were amicably settled and settlement amount to the tune of Rs. 18,60,312/- was realized.

Bench No.5 was constituted to taken up all Civil and criminal matters referred by different Magisterial Courts. The bench was presided over by Municipal Magistrate Srinagar Yashpal Sharma, who was assisted by Special Mobile Magistrate Railways 13th TFC, Parvaiz Iqbal. This bench had taken up 105 cases, out of which 33 cases were amicably settled and fine of an amount of Rs.6000/- was recovered.

Bench No. 6 was constituted to deal with the offences and violations under Motor Vehicles Act. The bench was presided over by Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Srinagar, Gowhar Majeed Dalal, who was assisted by Additional Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Srinagar, Mir Wajahat. This bench had taken up 2250 cases out of which 2250 cases were amicably settled and fine of an amount of Rs 2,17,190/- was recovered.

Bench No. 7 was constituted to taken up all matters referred by Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (13th FC) Panthachowk Srinagar. The bench was presided over by Addl. Special Mobile Magistrate (13th FC) Panthachowk Srinagar, Mehreen Mushtaq who was assisted by President Bar Association Panthachowk. This bench had taken up 48 cases, out of which 38 cases were amicably settled and fine of an amount of Rs. 7450/- was recovered.

Speaking on the occasion, Member Secretary J&K State Legal Services Authority Yashpal Bourney said that the Lok Adalat is being organized across the country as well as in the valley which is aimed at disposing of cases for the amicable settlement. 

He further said that there is no Court fee and if Court fee is already paid the amount will be refunded if the dispute is settled at Lok Adalat according to the rules. The basic features of Lok Adalat are the procedural flexibility and speedy trial of the disputes. There is no strict application of procedural laws like Civil Procedure Code and Evidence Act while accessing the claim by Lok Adalat. The parties to the dispute can directly interact with the Judge through their Counsel which is not possible in Regular Courts of Law. The award by the Lok Adalat is binding on the parties and it has the status of a decree of a Civil Court and it is non- appealable which does not cause the delay in the settlement of disputes finally. Lok Adalats are boon to the litigating public; they can get their disputes settled fast and free of cost amicably.

At Anantnag National Lok Adalat was organised by the District Legal Services Authority Anantnag today, at District Court Complex Anantnag.

Eight benches were constituted for holding of the said National Lok Adalat, all over the district, under the supervision of Principal District & Sessions Judge Syed Tawqeer Ahmad, who is also the Chairman District Legal Services Authority Anantnag.

Out of 395 cases, related to recovery suits, MACT, Electricity cases, Traffic Challans, Civil and Matrimonial cases, taken up in the said National Lok Adalat, a total settlement amount of Rs. 2086000 was awarded in favour of 264 amicably settled cases.

At Pulwama, the National Lok Adalat was held at court premises of District Court Complex Pulwama under the Chairmanship of Chairman District Legal Services Authority Pulwama.

During Lok Adalat various cases pertaining to criminal compoundable offence, NI Act, Cases under-section 138, Bank Recovery Cases, MACT Cases, Matrimonial Disputes, Labor Disputes etc. were taken up for amicable settlement.

On the occasion, Senior and junior Advocates of Bar Association Pulwama, Prominent citizens and large no of litigants were present.

At Uri, the Lok Adalat was held in which a total of 275 cases of varied natures were taken among which 257 were settled on spot.

At Shopian the National Lok Adalat was held today in the premises of District court complex Shopian under the chairmanship of Ashok Kumar Shavana Chairman District Legal Service Authority Shopian.

During the proceedings ten benches were constituted for taking up cases of matrimonial act, land acquisition, criminal compoundable, electricity bills, bank recovery, etc.

 In the said National Lok Adalat 222 cases of different nature including Pre-Litigation were taken up, out of which 138 cases has been settled by Mediation and reconciliation. An amount of Rs 68950 has been recovered as fine and same has been deposited in Government Treasury. However, Rs 3474000 were realized from defaulters in bank recovery cases. Besides that, an amount of Rs 1538000 was also realized in different cases, which was paid to the beneficiaries.

Bar member’s litigants, staff members, Senior District Officers of District Administration and other prominent citizens attended the National lok adalat.

At Kulgam the National Lok Adalat was organized by the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Kulgam who is also Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kulgam at District Court Complex Kulgam here today.

As many as 393 cases of various nature were taken up, out of which 191 cases including criminal, matrimonial and MACT were settled amicably during the national Lok Adalat an amount of Rs. 328000   was passed in favour of victims in MACT cases and an amount of Rs. 688675 was realized in different cases of electricity bills, water bills etc, taken up in Lok Adalat and an amount of Rs 1016675 imposed as fine in criminal R.P.C challan and traffic challan.

Four benches were constituted two at head quarter and each one at Qazigund and DH Pora. All the benches were headed by judicial officers, advocates and staff members

At Bandipora, the National Lok Adalat of four benches was organised by District Legal services Authority Bandipora under the chairmanship of District and session judge Bandipora Sayed Sarfaraz Hussain shah.

The first bench was presided over by Chairman District Legal Services Authority Bandipora Syed Sarfaraz Hussain Shah. Second Bench was presided over by Chief judicial Magistrate/Sub Judge Bandipora, Raja Mohammad Tasleem. Third Bench was presided over by Chairman TLSC, Munsiff/JMIC Bandipora Iqbal Ahmad Aakhoon, & another one Bench was also constituted at Munsiff Court Sumbal presided over Chairman  TLSC, (Munsiff/JMIC Sumbal) Manzoor Hussain Chowdhary .

During the Lok Adalat 175 cases of civil and criminal nature including matrimonial cases were taken up in the National Lok Adalat and out of which 108 Cases were settled amicably and an amount Rs.1, 35, 4000 was realized as fine.

At Kargil, The National Lok Adalat was held today in District Court Complex Kargil under the chairmanship of S K Bhagat Chairman District Legal Service Authority Kargil.

During the proceedings two benches were constituted for taking up cases of matrimonial act, land acquisition, criminal compoundable, electricity bills, bank recovery, etc.

The first bench was presided over by Chairman District Legal Services Authority Kargil S K Bhagat and second Bench was presided over by Chief Judicial Magistrate/Sub Judge Kargil, Spalzes Angmo.

In the said National Lok Adalat 82 cases of different nature were taken up, out of which 62 cases has been settled by Mediation and reconciliation.