Ludhiana News/Lok Adalats to be held on November 23

Ludhiana, November 21, 2013: Under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority, Delhi (NALSA) and Executive Chairman Justice Jasbir Singh, Punjab Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, a National Lok Adalat will be held on November 23, in all the Courts at District Courts, Ludhiana and all the Courts at Sub-Divisions.

Disclosing about the lok adalats K K Singla, CJM-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana said that MACT cases, Matrimonial cases, Land Acquisition cases, Civil Appeals, Rent Appeals, Criminal Appeals (in Criminal Compoundable Cases) shall be taken up by the Court of District and Sessions Judge and the Courts of Additional District and Sessions Judges, Ludhiana. Consumer complaints before the District Consumer Redressal Forum, Ludhiana shall also be taken up. Civil cases like rent, bank recovery, Easementary rights, Revenue Cases, MNREGA, Electricity & Water Bills (excluding theft cases), Service matters relating to pay and allowances and retiral benefits, Forest Act cases, Disaster Compensation, Criminal Compoundable Cases, Complaints under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act, Covered matters, shall be taken up by the Courts of Civil Judges/Judicial Magistrates in the Lok Adalat.

Singla said that Lok Adalat is the best way to achieve cheap and quicker resolution of disputes. Court Fees already paid by a party at the time of filing of a case is refunded to the party. The disputes resolved through Lok Adalat are on the basis of mutually acceptable terms. A decision which is mutually acceptable to both the parties not only brings an end to the long standing dispute, but also puts an end to litigation forever, as there is no appeal against the decision/award made by a Lok Adalat.

In Lok Adalat, Pre-litigative cases can also be decided. A Pre-litigative case is a case in which there is a dispute between two parties but the same has not yet come to the Court. The application should contain the particulars of both the parties, briefly the nature of dispute, documents. A pre-litigative case can be filed at Ludhiana or at the Sub-Divisions by moving an application to the Civil Judge (Senior Division) or Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana at District Courts, Ludhiana. Similarly, a pre-litigative case can be filed at any of the Sub-Divisions by moving an application to the Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), at the respective Sub-Divisions, as the case may be. Such applications may kindly be filed before scheduled date of adalats.

All the parties can approach in person or through/along with an authorised representative/Advocate for settlement of their pending case before the respective Courts. Any person can make enquiry from the Legal Aid Clinic/Front Office, at Court No-5, Old Wing, District Courts, Ludhiana.