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The legal services authorities in Nagaland, some of its functionaries pictured here, are said to have settled cases worth more than INR 2 crore during the National Lok Adalat that was conducted across the state.[/caption]
Dimapur, July 13 (EMN): The legal services agency in Nagaland has settled cases worth more than INR 2 crore during the National Lok Adalat that was conducted across the state.
Updates from the legal fraternity in the state informed that the number of cases that were resolved by the Lok Adalat was 409 dispute matters, among which 167 dispute matters were amicably settled and resolved.
A press release that was received here on Saturday stated that the legal services disposed 167 cases with a settlement “amount” of INR 2,46,73,751 through the Lok Adalat.
The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority constituted 11 Lok Adalat benches across the state to conduct the Lok Adalat, the updates stated.
‘Each Lok Adalat bench was conducted by the district legal services authorities in the respective district headquarter led by district judges, chief judicial magistrate and civil judges who acted as presiding officers and the retainer lawyers or panel lawyers acting as conciliators along with the paralegal volunteers who acted as members,’ the press release stated.
In the state of Nagaland, the updates stated, the overall figure of cases that was taken up before the Lok Adalat is 409 cases or dispute matters among which 167 cases or dispute matters were amicably settled and resolved through this people’s court forum, the press release informed.
‘The 167 disposed cases bears a settlement amount of INR. 2,46,73,751(rupees two crore forty six lakh seventy three thousand seven hundred fifty one) only,’ it was informed.
This “settlement amount,” in the words of the press release, is the “amount mutually agreed for payment before the Lok Adalat between the parties involved in a dispute where parties after compromise arrive at a willing amount to settle the disputes for the damaged caused or payment of negotiated amount on a claim by a party.”
According to the press release, the settlement "amount” includes ‘bank recovery money from a loan, compensation money etc involved in the disposed cases,’ the updates stated.
It was informed that the Lok Adalat sittings were held in the premises of district court buildings. Prior to conducting the Lok Adalat, the updates explained further, necessary communications and summons were “reached out to the parties and litigants encouraging them to come forward and settle their disputes/cases through the forum of Lok Adalat.”
Litigants and parties were also informed about the benefit of Lok Adalat and that people need not worry about getting into serious legal matters as appearing before the Lok Adalat is only to try and make effort for settling a dispute amicably among themselves, the press release stated.
The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority is the implementing agency vested with the jurisdiction to organise and conducts National Lok Adalat as sanctioned by the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987, the updates stated.
‘This type of Lok Adalat is held at regular intervals which has benefited the citizens with the privilege of settling their disputes at free of cost all across the state. The next National Lok Adalat is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 14th of September, 2019.’
According to the National Legal Services Authority’s website (NALSA), Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redress mechanisms; it is a forum where disputes and cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled or compromised amicably, the websites says.
“Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats 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,” the NALSA stated.
“If the parties are not satisfied with the award of the Lok Adalat 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.”