'Lok Adalat' to be held in Assam on September 11

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Along with the other States, the ASLSA (Assam State Legal Services Authority) — under the aegis of NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) — will be conducting the daylong 'National Lok Adalat' across the State on September 11, said ALSA Member Secretary Nayan Shankar Baruah while addressing the media at the Authority's Conference Hall at Latasil here on Thursday.

Baruah added, "We have opted for this system to salvage ourselves from the unprecedented COVID-19 induced state of affiar — where even the Court-based judicial system has been adversely affected. The burden of cases on the judiciary has heaped up many folds as normal functioning of Courts has been disrupted. This resulted in unimaginable strain on the judiciary as well as the litigants."

This year, similar exercises were held in April and July — resulting in the disposal of 4,351 pre-litigation cases/ 2,183 pending cases; and 3,780 pre-litigation case/ 1,092 pending cases respectively.

The NALSA has decided to organise the national-level 'Lok Adalats' in view of the huge disposal of cases across the country and also the positive responses from the stakeholders

Baruah pointed out, "The 'Lok Adalat' is an inexpensive, less cumbersome, and legally practical, he pointed out.

The 'National Lok Adalat' is a forum where the disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/compromised amicably. The Lok Adalat has been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be the decree of a Civil Court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal lies before any court against its award.

Also present on the occasion were the Deputy Secretary of ASLSA, Tripti Ari; and Secretary of Gauhati High Court Legal SAervices Committee, S.T. Moitra.

NATURE OF CASES REFERRED: Any case pending before any Court. Any dispute which has not been brought before any Court and is likely to be filed before the Court. However, any matter relating to an offence not compoundable under the law shall not be settled in Lok Adalat.

HOW TO GET THE CASE REFERRED TO THE LOK ADALAT: There following three conditions apply in this case.

(a) If the parties agree to settle the dispute in Lok Adalat; or (b) if one of the parties makes an application to the Court; or (c) if the Court is satisfied that that the matter is an appropriate one for settlement in Lok Adalat.

Interested parties/ persons can reach out to ASLSA and also the district-level Legal Services Authority or contact 6901281650 and also email at assamslsa1@gmail.com.

Also Read: In a first, Assam witnesses Virtual Lok Adalat

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