National Lok Adalat in Nagaland disposes 121 cases
In Longleng, the first session of Lok Adalat was held at District Court complex to deal with pre-litigation and pending cases and followed by mobile Lok Adalat. (Photo courtesy: NSLSA)
Kohima, February 8 (MExN): National Lok Adalat held across the state of Nagaland took up 159 cases and dispose of a total of 121 cases, mostly at pre-litigative stage. The total settlement amount involved in the disposed cases was Rs 69,44,947 (Rupees sixty nine lakhs forty four thousand nine hundred forty seven).
Altogether, 10 Lok Adalat sitting benches were constituted in ten districts, setup within the premises of the District Court Buildings for settlement of various disputes by bringing compromise between the parties through conciliators and members presided over by one or two sitting Judicial Officer(s).
Among the cases dealt and disposed, most of them were bank recovery cases with few cases of money suit, Criminal Compoundable cases. Five cases of Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation cases pending before the MACT, Dimapur was also awarded settlement and disposed in this Lok Adalat.
In Phek, National Lok Adalat was organised by Phek District Legal Services Authority at SBI Chozuba, Phek with presiding Officer, Mezivolu T Therieh, District and Session Judge & Chairperson of Phek DLSA, accompanied by Conciliators; Theodore, ADC Chozuba and Sekhotso Rokha Panel Lawyer, Phek DLSA.
Prior to the holding of Lok Adalat, notices were sent to 60 borrowers within the jurisdiction of Chozuba and Yoruba village, out of which 30 persons turn up with 23 of them entering settlement. Total settlement amount stood at Rs.6,79,287. Earlier, the programme started with brief speech from the SBI Manager, Bikash followed by short speeches by other participants.
In Longleng, the first session of Lok Adalat was held at District Court complex to deal with pre-litigation and pending cases and followed by mobile Lok Adalat in the second session for dealing with matters related to Traffic Challan at two locations.
In Kohima, the Kohima District Legal Services Authority conducted Lok Adalat at District Court Premises by conducting an introductory programme with the presences of beneficiaries whereby Neichochiyi Suyie, Principal District and Session Judge & Chairman of Kohima DLSA briefed on the importance of Lok Adalat and its benefits. He also urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the scheme of Lok Adalat.
Sunjib Rana, Retainer Lawyer, Kohima DLSA also gave a briefing about the availability of free Legal Services & Aid stating that people with income not exceeding of Rupees 1 Lakhs per annum are entitled for free legal aid and that all woman and children are given free legal aid and special protection is given to them.
The Lok Adalat was conducted by two presiding officers in the rank of Judicial Officers and six conciliators with five Banks present. A total of 19 cases were taken up and 9 cases were successfully awarded settlement with settlement Amount of Rs.7,52,070. One Matrimonial Dispute case was also settled and disposed of.
About Lok Adalat
Lok Adalat is a platform for the people based on the principle of serving justice on equal opportunity basis, compromise, conciliation and fair play. It is not at all a substitute to the present justice dispensation system, but rather a complimentary to achieve speedy justice and a binding resolution. Lok Adalat is less inexpensive than the regular court based litigation.
A press release issued by the NSLSA Public Relations Assistant added that a person can bring a dispute or case before Lok Adalat for settlement if the dispute is not yet brought before any court either party to the dispute may submit an application before the Chairman (or) Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority expressing his/her desire to get the dispute settled in Lok Adalat.
“If the case is already pending before any Court/Tribunal/Authority or Office, it may be got referred to Lok Adalat by filing a joint memo by both the parties to it or by filing an application by either party to it,” it stated.
“For pending cases in Courts, the Court may itself refer a case to Lok Adalat on its own if it considers the case to be fit for settlement in Lok Adalat. The litigants would get the same justice, which they get in the Court concerned. The litigants may get their disputes settled only when they are satisfied with the compromise proposed by the Conciliators. If they are not satisfied, they are at liberty to proceed with their case before the court concerned,” it added.
