HSLSA Holds 2nd National Lok Adalat In Haryana

On 11^th May, 2024, Haryana State Legal Services Authority organized its 2^nd National Lok Adalat of the year under the guidance of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Arun Palli, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority across the State of Haryana. The National Lok Adalat was organized in 22 Districts and 34 Sub-Divisions of Haryana. Several cases were taken up pertaining to "Civil, Criminal, Matrimonial, Bank Recovery, etc." including the cases of Permanent Lok Adalats (Public Utility Services) working in the ADR Centres. The purpose of holding National Lok Adalat is to facilitate a platform to the litigants to settle their disputes amicably.

On the day of National Lok Adalat, Mr. Justice Arun Palli, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, HALSA alonwith Sh. Surya Partap Singh, Ld. Member Secretary, Sh. Akshdeep Mahajan, Joint Member Secretary, Haryana State Legal Services Authority, other officers from High Court and other supporting staff of HALSA monitored the Lok Adalats through video conferencing. Lordship interacted with the Benches as well as with the parties and gave guidelines to the Benches.

Mr. Justice Arun Palli has conveyed his best wishes to the benches for conducting the National Lok Adalat successfully and encouraged them to settle maximum number of cases in today's National Lok Adalat. His Lordship emphasized that Lok Adalat is an effective alternative dispute resolution method for ensuring quick and final consensual disposal of cases binding on the parties without incurring any extra cost or fees. Lok Adalats not only settle pending dispute or disputes going to arise between parties but it also ensures social harmony as parties to dispute settle their cases amicably to their full satisfaction.

With the sheer efforts of benches, cases were settled amicably between the parties which were pending for a long time. Few of the highlights of the success stories are as under:

1. Jhajjar: An old dispute between a mother & Son was resolved and Son voluntarily agreed to pay Rs. 12,000/- per month to his mother as maintenance allowance.
2. Hisar: In a divorce petition pending for last four years, the matrimonial dispute between the couple was resolved amicably due to the personal efforts of the bench. The petitioner withdrew the divorce petition and the parties agreed to file petition under section 13B of Hindu Marriage Act with a view to put an end to the litigation.
3. Faridabad: In MACT dispute, the disability of the petitioner was accessed at the spot with help of Orthopedic surgeon who was deputed in the MACT bench for expert opinion and assistance and the matter was resolved successfully.
4. Charkhi Dadri: In a divorce petition pending from last two years, the matrimonial dispute between the couple and custody of minor child was resolved amicably due to the personal efforts and counselling of the respective Bench. As the respondent/wife is adamant for Rs. 22 lakhs but with the efforts of Bench, matter was resolved in tune of Rs. 15 lakh as one time settlement in two installments and custody of minor child remains with respondent/wife. The petitioner withdrew the divorce petition and the parties agreed to file petition section 13B of Hindu Marriage Act with a view to put an end to the litigation.
5. Panipat: In a case between two 60 year old brothers pertaining to Section 323, 325, 506 IPC, a compromise was reached. Their separate statements were recorded upon an application for compounding. Thus, the criminal matter was resolved and both brothers reunited in Court itself and left hoping for a better future.

Total No. of 256589 cases both at pre litigative and pending stage were settled thereby settling amount of more than Rs.110 Crore between the parties.