Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) Conducts Country's 1st Insurance E-Lok Adalat [Read Report]

Significantly, all proceedings of the e-Lok Adalat were conducted through video conferencing, wherein the Advocates and the parties of the cases including the Officers of the Insurance Companies etc. also joined through video conferencing.

The Preparatory work including virtual conciliation proceeding began on 7th July 2020 and finally the Lok Adalat for Insurance matters was held virtually on 26-9-2020 in which 10,719 matters were disposed of and disputes were settled to the tune of about Rs. 65,89,28,111.

In the Insurance Lok Adalat (Virtual) many of the cases were related to motor vehicle accidents, and therefore, the instant compensation disbursed provided much-needed relief to the families who lost their bread earners in road accidents.

As the insurance claims of Rs 65,89,28,111 were disbursed, many beneficiaries who received cheques were happy and satisfied.

Launch of Jharkhand Vidhik Sewa Mobile App and Vidhik Sewa Web Portal

Notably, on this occasion, during the inaugural programme, the Jharkhand Vidhik Sewa Mobile App and Vidhik Sewa Web Portal of High Court Legal Services Committee were launched.

The Vidhik Sewa Mobile App has been designed in a manner so that beneficiaries can avail the legal services entitled to them without physically approaching Legal Services Institutions.

They can do so by filling in their details and grievances in the App itself. Panel lawyers, jail clinics etc. have been added on the app, and a committee formed by JHALSA will be continuously monitoring the app.

This app, along with the web portal of the High Court Legal Services Committee has been designed with the overarching objective of taking justice to the doorsteps of people.

The Vidhik Sewa Mobile App and Web Portal will make legal services more inclusive, and help those residing in remote and far-flung areas, as well as the poor as it saves their cost of travelling.

The App and the portal will help the eligible people tp upload their documents directly on the App/Portal and the Committee, after the scrutiny of the documents uploaded, will appoint a lawyer for that particular case. The Committee aims to make the Justice delivery system smooth and efficient.

Guidance and Inauguration

The Programme was organised under the guidance of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Patron in Chief, JHALSA and Justice H.C Mishra, Executive Chairman, JHALSA.

Notably, the programme was inaugurated by Justice Aniruddha Bose, Judge, Supreme Court of India in the presence of Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan, Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand-cum-Patron-in-Chief, JHALSA, Justice H. C. Mishra, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand & Executive Chairman, JHALSA, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand & Chairman, Jharkhand High Court Legal Services Committee, Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand and other Hon'ble Judges of Hon'ble High Court of Jharkhand.

Justice Aniruddha Bose, Judge, Supreme Court of India spoke about how JHALSA has stood up and taken up the challenge posed by COVID by creating a new mode of dispensing justice.

He also highlighted the issue of 'litigation aversion' among common people and encouraged Legal Services Authorities to make it friendlier by popularizing the idea of legal clinics. His Lordship said, "We need to reach out to the victims and sufferers to ensure them that we are there for them."

Justice N.V. Ramana, Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA (who couldn't make it to the Programme) conveyed his message during the inaugural programme.

A Success Story

Rajesh Dhan was a Havildar in Chandil, Seraikela, Jharkhand. He was killed in a Road accident in 2018 leaving behind his wife Priska, 2-year-old daughter 2 years and old aged parents. They were living in acute poverty in Khuti, Karra. JHALSA took up the matter and a Cheque of Rs 90 lacs was given to the wife of policeman Rajesh Dhan (late) on 26-9-2020.

(With inputs from Member Secretary, JHALSA, Mohammad Shakir)