April 18 (Punjab Khabarnama) : As per the guidelines of National Services Authority and Punjab State Legal Services Authority and under the able guidance of Madam Rupinderjit Chahal, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala check bounce cases, money recovery cases, labor and Tribunals dealing with employment disputes cases, payment of electricity, water bills and other bills (except non-compoundable), maintenance cases, other criminal compoundable cases and other civil disputes and cases pending in courts viz. Criminal compoundable offences, check bounce cases, money recovery cases, MACT cases, labor and employment dispute cases, electricity, water bill and other bill payment cases (except non-compoundable), matrimonial disputes (except divorce), National Lok Adalat will be held on 11.5.2024 in District Patiala for cases related to land acquisition matters (pending before Civil Courts/Tribunals), pay and allowances and retirement benefits, revenue cases etc. Benches of judicial courts will be constituted at Patiala, Rajpura, Samana and Nabha for this purpose.
Madam Mani Arora, CJM/Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala said that the primary purpose of Lok Adalats is to settle disputes through compromise. This approach aims to save time and money for the parties involved and reduce personal animosity between them. It is important to note that except for non-compoundable criminal cases, all types of cases, even at the pre-litigation stage, can be submitted for amicable settlement in People’s Courts.
Madam Arora further explained that when a case is disposed of in Lok Adalat, the award becomes final, and there is no appeal against it. In addition, any court fees paid by the parties are refunded, and disputing parties receive an expeditious resolution of their dispute based on mutually agreed terms. This creates a win-win situation for both parties involved.
It is clear that Lok Adalats play an important role in providing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that is efficient, cost-effective and effective, and promotes amity between the parties.
Thus, people are urged to submit their disputes before the upcoming National Lok Adalat, so as to save their valuable time and hard earned money. For this purpose, every litigant desirous of redress through Lok Adalat may make a request to the Presiding Officer of the concerned Court where his case is pending. Even in compoundable criminal cases, a party can move an application to keep the matter before Lok Adalat. In case of pre-litigative cases a request may be made to the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Patiala. . More detailed information can be obtained from website www.pulsa.gov.in or NALSA Helpline No. 15100 and District Legal Services Authority.
