Srinagar: Out of 5036 cases, 3908 cases were settled amicably during a LokAdalat organized by District Legal Services Authority Srinagar here.
41 cases under Motor Accident Claim Tribunal (MACT) were disposed of in which the J&K High Court Chief Justice PankajMithal on spot handed over cheques to the two petitioners to the tune of Rs 19,85,000 and 12,50,000 in two cases respectively, said an official.
He informed that besides this, Rs 27,30,7769 were awarded as compensation by MACT Srinagar and Rs 1,52,35,484 has been collected as settlement amount by different courts including traffic challans.
“A total number of 5036 cases were taken up for their amicable settlement out of which 3908 cases were settled,” he informed.
The LokAdalat was organized under the Chairmanship of Mohammad AkramChowdhary, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar and coordinated by Noor Mohammad Mir, Secretary District Legal Services Authority Srinagar.
J&K High Court Chief Justice PankajMithal said that alternate dispute resolution system is one of the effective modes of disposal of cases and litigants should avail and participate in LokAdalat as and when conducted by the courts.
“In LokAdalat both the parties go home happily and both parties have win position,” he said.
Justice Ali Mohammad Magray ,Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority said that LokAdalats are inexpensive with fast delivery of justice and LokAdalats also help courts in reducing the work load which enables them to look into more serious matters.
He added that there is no court fee and if court fee already paid, the amount will be refunded if the dispute is settled in LokAdalat. The LokAdalat was part of the second National LokAdalat held under the directions of NALSA and J&K LSA. It was inaugurated by Chief Justice J&K High Court PankajMithal in presence of Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, Executive Chairman J&K Legal Services Authority, and Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Dhar.
Advocate Mir NaveedGul, the panel lawyer for DLSA Srinagar said that total nine benches were constituted during today LokAdalat. He said that LokAdalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
“Under this Act, the award (decision) made by the LokAdalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law,” he said.
He added that if the parties are not satisfied with the award of the LokAdalat though there is no provision for an appeal against such an award, but they are free to initiate litigation by approaching the court of appropriate jurisdiction by filing a case by following the required procedure, in exercise of their right to litigate.