NALSA Helps In Disposal Of Over 10 Lakh Cases In National Lok Adalat On Dec 12

The authority, under the guidance and directions of Justice NV Ramana, Executive Chairman, NALSA, helped in successful disposal of over 10 lakh cases.

Disposal

As per the data provided by the authority, 8152 Benches were constituted by 31 SLSAs to conduct the National Lok Adalat. It remained successful in disposing of 10,42,816. Out of the total cases disposed of, 5,60,310 cases were at the pre-litigation stage and 4,82,506 cases which were pending in the courts.

These cases included labour disputes, money recovery, land acquisition, maintenance cases, NI Act cases under Section 138, Criminal Compoundable Offences, matrimonial disputes (except divorce), service matters relating to pay, allowances and retirement benefits, other civil cases (rent, easmentary rights, injunction suits, specific performance suits) etc.

The details, as provided by states on NALSA portal, indicate that the settlement amount was nearly ₹ 3227.99 Cr.

Facilities to overcome challenges posed by Pandemic

So far as physical Adalats are concerned, requisite safety and health protocol in view of the COVID-19 pandemic was strictly observed by all SLSAs and DLSAs.

Further, to ensure accessibility to the ADR forum, the Legal Services Authorities introduced virtual Lok Adalat i.e., E-Lok Adalat.

"E-Lok Adalat by leveraging technology has provided a platform to millions of people to settle their disputes. Upto November 2020, a total number of 3,00,200 cases have been disposed of through the said E-Lok Adalats," a press note issued by NALSA stated.

The 1^st National Lok Adalat for the year 2020 was conducted on February 8, 2020 throughout the country from Taluk level courts to High Courts. In the aforesaid National Lok Adalat, a total of 11.9 lac cases including 6.7 lac pre-litigation cases and 5.2 lac pending cases were settled.

The following success stories shared by NALSA give a glimpse as to how the last National Lok Adalat for the year 2020 resulted in providing relief to the disputants by amicable settlement of their disputes:

Compensation to dependents of an accident victim

An application for compensation was filed by the dependents of an unmarried 22-year-old man who had died in a road accident before the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal. The claim for compensation was being contested by the Insurance Company. With the timely intervention of the Legal Services Authorities, the case was settled in the National Lok Adalat, and the dependents were awarded compensation of Rs. 11,30,000.

Settlement of a family land dispute

A family land dispute was amicably settled by the Lok Adalat bench Korba, at the pre-litigation stage itself.

Matrimonial dispute amicably settled

In one matrimonial dispute, a husband and wife who were going through a marital disharmony were reconciled. The husband had filed an original suit for restitution of conjugal rights. The matter was pending before the Principal Judge, Family Court, West Singhbhum at Chaibasa. After the matter was taken up in the National Lok Adalat, the dispute between husband and wife was amicably settled and the wife thereafter agreed to stay with the petitioner husband.

Relief to petitioner in claim for compensation

The National Lok Adalat disposed of a long pending insurance claim dispute between an insurance holder whose store was robbed and the Insurance Company.

The insurance company had been delaying payment despite an order being passed in favour of the insurance holder for payment of Rs 13, 53,286/- along with 6% interest. The matter was settled in National Lok Adalat and a cheque of Rs13,53,286/- was disbursed in favour of the petitioner.