Chandigarh, July 10
Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, Judge, Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, the National Lok Adalat was organized on 10.07.2021 throughout the State of Punjab strictly as per the guidelines issued by the Centre as well as the State Government from time to time to restrict the surge of Covid-19. The National Lok Adalat was held through both physical as well as virtual mode.
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for virtual Lok Adalat was circulated to all the District Legal Services Authorities in State of Punjab, for the purpose of convenience of the Lok Adalat benches, Advocates as well as the Litigants.
In this mega event, approximately 50,000 cases were taken up in around 339 benches of Lok Adalat. Various awards were passed with the consent of the parties. As per the provisions of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the court fee was ordered to be refunded. The active participation by the Hon’ble Executive Chairman Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, acted as a catalyst in resolving a large number of cases and brought back the smile and hope on the faces of the litigants.
Taking keen interest in the Lok Adalat, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, Judge, Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority personally visited the Judicial Court Complexes at Patiala and Mohali and encouraged the litigants to resolve their disputes through this Lok Adalat.
On this occasion, the people have also been made aware about the toll free number 1968 for any kind of legal assistance available to all the needy persons particularly the marginalized segments. The Front Offices set up at District and Sub Division level in the premises of the courts, are there to guide the litigants for obtaining free and effective legal aid.
Arun Gupta, Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority has informed that the National Lok Adalats are held regularly strictly as per Schedule of the National Legal Services Authority and urged the general public to settle their grievances amicably in the Lok Adalats.
