The Manipur State Legal Services Authority in association with High Court Legal Services Committee and District Legal Services Authorities organized the third National Lok Adalat for the year, 2021 today at various places across the state, both in virtual and physical modes per the calendar of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
A press release issued on Saturday said National Lok Adalat was held at Imphal East, West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur, Chandel districts and in the High Court of Manipur.
National Lok Adalat for Imphal East and Imphal West district organized by MASLSA, 4 (four) benches were constituted. The Lok Adalat was conducted in online mode through video conferencing except for some court cases where presences of the parties are required. The first bench comprises of Shri Th. Saimon Singh, Judicial Member, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission as Chairman and Ch. Nanda, Advocate as Member. The 2nd Bench comprises of Smt. R.K Memcha Devi, District and Sessions Judge, Imphal East as Chairperson and Shri Ch. Momon Singh, Advocate as Member. The 3rd bench comprises of Smt. A. Noutuneshwari Devi, Retd. District & Sessions Judge as Chairperson and Km. B. Supriya Devi, Advocate as Member. The 4th Bench comprises of Shri Y. Somorjit Singh, Chief Judicial Magisrate, Imphal West as Chairman and Shri Ch. Bimolchandra, Advocate as Member.
The representatives of the Bank/ Insurance companies and the parties are present in the online Lok Adalat through video conferencing. In such challenging times, all modes of virtual communication are adopted for effective communication between the parties.
A total of 2876 cases (both pending & pre-litigation cases) were referred from the various courts, legal aid clinics, Consumer Forums, Tribunals, Banks etc. However, only 392 cases were taken up today and out of which 316 cases were settled with total settlement amount of Rs. 3,28,40,731/- (Rupees three crore twenty-eight lakhs forty thousand seven hundred and thirty-one) only, resulting into 80% settlement rate.
It is to be noted that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the conventional physical Lok Adalats are now shifted to online Lok Adalats in which lok adalat is conducted in virtual mode by using simple video conferencing applications. Online Lok Adalats play an important role in resolving disputes without wasting much time and money and to ensure that access to justice continues during these challenging times.
In addition to the National Lok Adalats which will be held on December 11, 2021, MASLSA will be holding regular State Lok Adalats from time to time. Thus, it is appealed to all the general public, Government Departments, Private Institutions & other bodies to refer all their cases to Manipur State Legal Services Authority or District Legal Services Authorities so that their disputes and cases can be settled amicably at free of cost through Lok Adalats.
MASLSA said it was thankful to the Presiding Officers, Judicial Officers, ld. Advocates, all the parties, Officials of Bank/ Insurance Companies, News and Print Media for making this programme a success.
It also requested to all the News and Print Media to give wider dissemination of Lok Adalat as well as availability of legal services and Legal Services Institutions in general so that access to justice is enabled for all.
About The Author
