"Lok Adalats Essential To Shed Unwanted Burden On Courts With Respect To Cases That Can Easily Be Disposed Of" : Justice UU Lalit

While stressing on the tremendous amount of burden on Courts caused due to the Covid Pandemic, Supreme Court Judge, Justice UU Lalit on Saturday stated that Lok Adalats are essential to shed such unwanted burden on Courts with respect to cases that can be easily disposed of.

The observations were made by Justice U.U. Lalit during a National-level webinar on "National Lok Adalat: Challenges and way forward", organized by the National Legal Services Authority on the 26th of June, 2021.

The webinar was organised in light of the upcoming National Lok Adalat scheduled to be held on 10th July, 2021 pan-India, subject to due observation of Covid-19 guidelines issued by Central and State Governments from time to time.

Justice UU Lalit who is also the Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) said that functioning in Courts have been severely affected by the Covid pandemic with urgent matters taken up, adding to an already heavy docket in Courts..

Referring to the challenge presented by Covid-19 and how the same was converted into an opportunity by various SLSAs, Justice UU Lalit addressed the Judges and Judicial Officers involved in Legal Aid Services Administration and reiterated that they have to work hard to help the poor and needy in effective dispensation of justice.

" Where there is a will there is a way" Justice Lalit said.

While emphasising on having pre-Lok Adalat sittings, Justice U.U. Lalit apprised that Legal Services Authorities should try and have pre-Lok Adalat sittings with all stakeholders including private parties, respective advocates, representatives of insurance companies, and representatives of the Government to ensure smooth functioning of the National Lok Adalat proceedings.

"If our efforts are well directed we must not be bother for the end result or the rate of success." Justice Lalit said.

With regards the functioning of the Lok Adalats, Justice UU Lalit stated that matters are taken up in Lok Adalats when parties come before the Lok Adalat, when only one party approaches the Lok Adalat and when the court takes up any matter on its own accord.

The webinar was organised with the aim to sensitize all the District Legal Services Authorities in order to ensure smooth and proper functioning of the National Lok Adalat, and was attended by:

• Executive Chairpersons of State Legal Services Authorities

• Chairpersons of High Court Legal Services Committees

• Ld. Member Secretaries of SLSAs

• Chairpersons and Secretaries, DLSAs and Judicial Officers.

Justice Lalit also said that the aim of the webinar was to guide Legal Services Authorities in such a way so as to maximise the effort put in and get the best results possible, and his endeavour was to speak and galvanise the entire apparatus in action, to ensure whatever is possible on 10th July, is carried out.

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