1,88,422 cases settled in 1st National Lok Adalat held across J&K

Srinagar, Mar 8: A total of 1,88,422 cases were settled in the 1st National Lok Adalat held across Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Reaffirming the commitment to provide quick, affordable, and amicable resolution of disputes, the First National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 was successfully organised today across Jammu and Kashmir under the patronage of Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority) and the dynamic mentorship of Justice Atul Sreedharan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, as well as under the guidance of Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee.

The initiative aimed to promote amicable settlements in cases including MACT, matrimonial disputes, cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, money recovery, commercial disputes, and compoundable criminal cases.

To ensure the maximum resolution of disputes, pre-Lok Adalat sittings and pre-counselling sessions were conducted well in advance, providing the parties with ample opportunity to engage in dialogue and reach a consensus for a permanent resolution.

Additionally, webinars and virtual meetings were organised to sensitise stakeholders, officers of Legal Services Institutions, LADCs, Panel Lawyers, PLVs, and others involved in the promotion of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR).

These sessions emphasised the significance of Lok Adalats and encouraged parties to take full advantage of the opportunity.

As per the information received from various Legal Services Institutions working in different districts of J&K, of the total 1,99,853 cases taken up by 165 benches in the day-long National Lok Adalat across J&K, 1,88,422 cases were amicably settled and disposed of involving an amount of Rs 59,04,49,391 as compensation and settlement amount in cases like motor accident claims, civil, criminal, labour disputes, electricity and water bills, land acquisition, family matters, cheque dishonour, and bank recovery.

This National Lok Adalat marked a significant milestone as it was the first such event after Shazia Tabassum, District and Sessions Judge, took charge as Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority.

Speaking to media persons on the occasion, Shazia Tabassum emphasised the crucial role of Lok Adalats in reducing case pendency and ensuring speedy justice. She highlighted that dispute resolution through Lok Adalats not only saves time and resources for litigants but also fosters a culture of amicable settlements, ensuring long-term societal harmony.

She said that special efforts were made to enhance participation, streamline pre-litigation settlements, and encourage litigants to opt for out-of-court resolutions.

Under her leadership, the J&K Legal Services Authority will continue to strengthen the ADR mechanism, ensuring that justice reaches the doorstep of every individual, particularly the marginalised and underprivileged sections of society.

She expressed gratitude to the Judiciary, Legal Services Institutions, District Administration, Advocates, and other stakeholders for their collective efforts in making the National Lok Adalat a success.

She also announced that the second National Lok Adalat of the year will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, and a Special Lok Adalat for Consumer Cases will be organized on April 26, 2025. Litigants who could not have their cases listed in today’s Lok Adalat or were unable to settle their disputes for any reason are encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity in the upcoming Lok Adalats.