Lok Adalat Means Swift & Affordable Justice: Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Inaugurates National Lok Adalat At Port Blair

Calcutta High Court Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam recently inaugurated the National Lok Adalat at Port Blair, Mayabunder and Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Chief Justice pointed out that Lok Adalats are the key to swift and affordable justice. He stated that the figures forwarded regrading the number of benches and cases of the National Lok Adalat showed that great ground work had been done by the SLSA and DSLA with the cooperation of all stakeholders.

"Six benches have been constituted. More than 1500 cases were referred for Lok Adalat. 729 in the pre-litigation stage and 830 cases which are pending," the Chief Justice noted.

He further stated that it is of utmost importance in conducting a Lok Adalat that all the concerned judges of the district participate in the same to make the event an overall success. He reflected:

"I have always believed that lok adalat is an event in which every judge or staff member of the district judiciary has to participate. When I was transferred here 3 years ago I visited some districts and found that the district judge was present, and only some of the judges were present along with other members. Though the judge strength was 50-60, there were hardly 6-7 judges who were present. I told the district judge in charge that this event must have participation from all judges and staff members, and that it would make the outcome even better. Fortunately, the ideas were taken up by all the district judges, and thereafter in every lok adalat all the judges of the concerned district participated."

Finally, the Chief Justice reflected on the earlier National Lok Adalat meetings chaired by Former CJI UU Lalit, and remembered that although West Bengal in the list of states was alphabetically towards the end of the list, the former CJI to recognise the efforts put in by the functionaries of the State in successfully conducting a National Lok Adalat, began the meeting with the State of West Bengal to highlight its achievements.

"After the first national Lok adalat our performance jumped up and the efforts were recognised by former CJI UU Lalit who recognised the efforts of West Bengal in Lok Adadlats in a meeting, and this is just because of the effort put in by the stakeholders. There was a time when the general people did not know what this mechanism was. We have identified cases pending before the SC arising out of the judgements of the Calcutta HC and if there are cases involving the administration, the law secretary will consider whether any can be resolved by the Lok Adalat," the CJ said.

In an appeal to the advocates to embrace the mechanism of Lok Adalats in dispute resolution, the Chief Justice told the lawyers to encourage dispute settlement through Lok Adalats.

"By settling cases in Lok adalat you will not lose but you will stand to gain, your satisfied clients will bring more clients and will improve the advocate's practise," the CJ stated.