Convener News Desk
Bandipora, Dec 13: The National Lok Adalat held in Bandipora on Saturday disposed of 4,809 cases in a single day, significantly easing the burden on local courts and resulting in settlements amounting to ₹2.51 crore, officials said.
The Lok Adalat was organised by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Bandipora, under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority. Officials said the day-long exercise took up 5,470 cases, most of which were resolved amicably through conciliation.
Earlier the Lok Adalat was inaugurated and supervised by Jeema Bashir, Chairperson, DLSA Bandipora, under the guidance of Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Bandipora. Officials said the initiative aimed at providing speedy, cost-effective justice while reducing pendency in regular courts.
According to the DLSA, disputes settled during the Lok Adalat included matrimonial cases, matters under the Negotiable Instruments Act, civil disputes, compoundable criminal cases, bank recovery cases and several pre-litigation matters.
To ensure smooth disposal, ten benches were constituted, comprising judicial officers, revenue officials, labour department representatives and municipal authorities. Each bench worked simultaneously to facilitate dialogue between parties and arrive at mutually acceptable settlements.
Giving details spokesperson said the first bench was presided over by Jeema Bashir, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Bandipora, with Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Chief LADC, DLSA Bandipora, as Member.
Second Bench was presided over by Mir Wajahat, Additional District Judge, Bandipora, with Iqbal Ahmad Akhoon, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bandipora, as Member.
Third bench was presided over by Amandeep Singh, Munsiff JMIC, Bandipora, with Javaid Iqbal Lone, Assistant LADC, Bandipora, as Member.
The fourth bench was presided over by Mehak Mehboob, Additional Special Mobile Magistrate, Bandipora, with Toiba Tabasum, Deputy LADC, Bandipora, as Member.
The fifth bench was Presided over by Rahila Rashid, Munsiff/JMIC, Sumbal, with Nazia Parveen, Assistant LADC, Bandipora, as Member.
Sixth bench was presided over by Zaffar Hussain Shawl, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, with Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Bandipora, as Member.
Seventh bench was Presided over by Rabia Mir, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Bandipora, with Mushtaq Ahmad Kambay, Labour Officer, Bandipora, as Member.
Eighth bench was Presided over by Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi, ARTO, Bandipora, with Tariq Ahmad, Inspector (ARTO Office), Bandipora, as Member.
Ninth Bench was Presided over by the Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate 1st Class, Bandipora, with the Naib Tehsildar, Bandipora, as Member while the tenth Bench: Presided over by the Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Bandipora, with the Secretary, Municipal Council, Bandipora, as Member.
Officials said all the benches so constituted worked diligently and efficiently to dispose of a substantial number of cases.
Senior judicial officers, including the Additional District Judge and Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bandipora, besides members of the Bar Association, Legal Aid Defence Counsels, para-legal volunteers and litigants, were present during the proceedings.
Officials said the Lok Adalat also went beyond dispute resolution. In collaboration with the Labour Department, a helpdesk was set up at the venue for enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), benefiting 141 individuals.
Legal services authorities said such Lok Adalats play a crucial role in improving access to justice, particularly for vulnerable sections, by offering an informal and conciliatory mechanism for dispute resolution.
“The National Lok Adalat has once again demonstrated its effectiveness in delivering justice in a fair, expeditious and people-friendly manner,” officials said, adding that the initiative has helped substantially reduce case pendency in the district.
Comments are closed.