Chief Justice inaugurates Special Lok Adalat at Kulgam

Jammu, Feb 17: Under the patronage of Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice N Kotiswar Singh and with the approval of Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Tashi Rabstan besides under the guidance of Chairperson, High Court Legal Services Committee, Justice Sindhu Sharma,  a special Lok Adalat was organised throughout the UT of J&K here on Saturday, being part of activities for the year 2024, calendar which was issued last month by the J&K Legal Services Authority.

The Chief Justice inaugurated the special Lok Adalat at District Court Complex, Kulgam in the presence of Justice Sanjay Dhar, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Administrative Judge for Kulgam district. He inspected the benches of Lok Adalat besides interacting with Judicial officers, lawyers and litigants.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice impressed upon the Secretary DLSA Kulgam to organise awareness camps for Horticulturists and orchard owners as well as traders to educate them regarding the mode of payment through cheques and its repercussions in case of dishonor to ensure that they do not face any legal proceeding in the business transactions.

The Chief Justice lauded the pivotal role played by the Legal Services institutions in ensuring equitable access to justice to all the citizens and in extending legal services to remote areas that help in bridging the gap between the law and the legal aid seekers.

The Chief Justice also distributed wheelchairs among the deserving persons and participated in a special plantation drive carried out in the court complex.

Later, the Chief Justice urged upon the lawyers to take maximum benefit of the ADR mechanism especially the mediation and the lok Adalat for amicable settlement of case.

Today’s Special Lok Adalat focused on amicable settlement of Cheque Bounce cases under Negotiable Instrument Act that were pending disposal before various courts in UT of J&K. As per the data received from District Legal Services Authorities, UT of J&K, a total 1106 Cheque Bounce cases were taken up in the Special Lok Adalat, out of which, 356 pending cases were amicably settled involving an amount of Rs. 13,96,83,291/- giving a huge relief to the litigants.

Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, Amit Kumar Gupta, while informing media persons applauded the efforts of District Legal Services Authority Jammu for settling 191 pending cases which is more than 50% of the total cases settled in today’s lok Adalat. He further informed that this was the second Special Lok Adalat of the current calendar year and the next special lok Adalat shall be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 focusing on the settlement of consumer cases pending disposal in different consumer forums within the UT of J&K.

Gupta urged upon the Advocates in general and the litigants in particular to take maximum benefit of such Special Lok Adalats which are being organized by the J&K Legal Services Authority. He appreciated the efforts of all the Judicial Officers, Secretaries DLSA’s, Advocates, staff of the district and tehsil courts as well as Legal Services Institutions besides litigants for their whole hearted participation in the Special Lok Adalat and facilitating settlement of cases in such a large number. He also acknowledged the role of Para Legal Volunteers and the media, both print and electronic in creating and spreading awareness among the masses about such initiatives of Legal Services Authority.