National Lok Adalat Disposal Figures Cross 77 Lakhs; Justice Lalit Lauds NALSA Team
One more milestone has been achieved by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in its first Lok Adalat of this year held in hybrid mode on 12th March, 2022 which disposed off more than 77 lakhs cases. An earlier report had mentioned the number of disposals as 40 lakhs based on data available on the evening of March 12. Now, the updated information shows over 77 lakh disposals. On...
One more milestone has been achieved by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in its first Lok Adalat of this year held in hybrid mode on 12th March, 2022 which disposed off more than 77 lakhs cases. An earlier report had mentioned the number of disposals as 40 lakhs based on data available on the evening of March 12. Now, the updated information shows over 77 lakh disposals.
On the achievement, the architect of success, Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, Judge of the Supreme Court and the Executive Chairman of NALSA said, "Quick and affordable access is key to success of Lok Adalat". The progressive improvement in disposal rate is noticeable under Justice Lalit. More than 29 lakhs cases in July, 2021, 42 lakhs cases in September 2021 and 54 lakhs cases in December 2021. The graph of achievement is steadily rising.
The NALSA has radically changed its management approaches. A synthesis of Top-Down and Bottom-Up approach is adopted. Virtual mode of communication was put to the best use during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A 45 days Pan India Awareness Campaign and Outreach Campaign from 2nd October, 2021 to 14th November, 2021 was undertaken and herculean aim to touch every village in the country thrice was achieved successfully. This re-vitalized the Legal Services Institutions across the country. The flame of awareness was taken to every nook and corner to eradicate darkness and create awareness that - every person is entitled to free and good quality legal aid. Simultaneously, periodic interactions with the State/ District Legal Services Authorities in a frank and free exchange of ideas with ground level stakeholders i.e. Presiding Officers, Lawyers, Interns etc. were held. The feedback was assimilated and implemented strenuously and zealously. The result of such approach has manifested in the success of National Lok Adalat with increased participation of people in Lok Adalat proceedings. This has brought home the point that the urgent need of quick and affordable access to legal services to common man can be ensured by informed awareness. It has also established that National Lok Adalats are imperative mode of Alternate Dispute Resolution to reduce overcrowded dockets of the Indian Courts.
Some of the remarkable feats of the National Lok Adalat held in March 2022 have been as follows. A resolution of 30 years old property dispute in the State of Rajasthan where litigating son touched the feet of his mother. In Mysore, 53 years old partition suit has been settled amicably. This suit was among the children of original propositus T. Lakshminarayana Upadhyay. The suit was filed in 1967 claiming share in property including share in the amount to the tune of Rs.64,00,000/-. The final decree proceedings were initiated in the year 1982. There were 40 parties and 10 lawyers. Conciliation proceedings were greatly infused with the principle that the female children are equally entitled to share alike sons. In Solapur, Maharashtra, the Lok Adalat Panel was successful in resolving a 50 years old criminal case filed in 1972.
Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit, who believes that better legal aid will instil confidence in people, reached out to speak to the parties of Partition Suit and interacted with the woman suffering from paralysis virtually.
Engaging people in amicable dispute resolutions by consensus and ensuring their participation in the same is a boon to the parties, courts and nation alike, in that it preserves precious time, energy and resources of the parties; eases courts' dockets and improves efficiency of delivery of justice which in-turn aids nation's healthy sustenance and progress by increasing ease of doing business norms. National Lok Adalats conducted under the auspices of NALSA are set to achieve new milestones in near future.