2nd National Lok Adalat held at Kathua

KATHUA, May 13: Under the direction of  Justice Tashi Rabstan, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and under the radiant guidance of Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Kathua (also Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Kathua), Ashok Kumar Shavan, the 2nd National Lok Adalat of the calendar year 2023 was held here at District Court Complex Kathua.

The National Lok Adalat was formally inaugurated by Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Kathua (also Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Kathua) Ashok Kumar Shavan, by the lighting of ceremonial lamp.

Six Benches were constituted for settling the referred cases. The Bench No 1 consisted of Principal District & Sessions Judge, Kathua Ashok Kumar Shavan, and Special Mobile Magistrate, Kathua Surinder Kumar Thappa.

The Bench No. 2 included Additional District & Sessions Judge, Kathua Kusam Lata Pandita,  and District Mobile Magistrate, Kathua Neena Thakur, while the Bench No. 3 consisted of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua, Swati Gupta and Munsiff JMIC, Kathua Cheena Sumbria.

The Bench No. 4 included Munsiff JMIC, Basohli, Jeevan Kumar Sharma and President, Bar Association Basohli Advocate Shub Kumar. The Bench No. 5 comprised Munsiff JMIC, Billawar, Jyoti Bhagat, and Member, Billawar, Poonam Gupta and the Bench No. 6   included Munsiff JMIC, Mahanpur Rajni Bhagat.

Secretary, District Legal Services Authority Kathua Rekha Kapoor Nishcal, coordinated the proceedings of the 2nd National Lok Adalat of the calendar year, 2023 organized at ADR Centre, District Court Complex Kathua.

The matters placed before the Benches included Civil, Criminal Compoundable, Cheque Bounce, Recovery matters, BSNL, 138 NI Act, 125 Cr.PC, Revenue matters, MACT, Matrimonial, Public Utility Services, Pre-litigation matters and also Traffic challans.

A total 772 cases were taken up for their amicable settlement out of which 547 cases were settled and Rs 2,09 ,18,206/- was realized as settlement amount.

Besides this, District Legal Services Authority Kathua also organized a Legal Awareness program on “Role of Lok Adalats and Access to Justice” at ADR Centre, District Court Complex Kathua wherein Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Kathua (also Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Kathua) Ashok Kumar Shavan  was the Chief Guest.

The Chief Guest, in his special address, highlighted the scope of Lok Adalat for the amicable settlement of disputes.

The Welcome address and vote of thanks were presented by Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel Puneet Kumari. 

The program was attended by Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kathua Kusam Lata Pandita, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua Swati Gupta and Special Judicial Magistrate Kathua, Surinder Kumar Thappa, Munsiff JMIC Kathua , Cheena Sumbria, District Mobile Magistrate Kathua Neena Thakur, President Bar Association Kathua, Panel Advocates, staff members of District Court Complex Kathua, staff  and PLVs of District Legal Services Authority Kathua.

The proceedings of the program were conducted by Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel Puneet Kumari.