Chandigarh: As many as 1,45,779 cases were taken up before the 336 benches of the National Lok Adalat, which was organized throughout the state of Punjab on Saturday.
Divulging further, Arun Gupta, District & Sessions Judge-cum-Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority said that during this mega event of National Lok Adalat, conducted under the visionary leadership of Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman of Punjab State Legal Services Authority, various long pending matters (pre-litigative and pending) relating to matrimonial disputes, property disputes, cheque bounce cases, labour matters, criminal compoundable cases, cancellation/untraced reports of various FIRs etc. were taken up and awards were passed with the consent of the parties.
“This National Lok Adalat has helped in reducing the pendency of cases in the regular courts” said Member Secretary Arun Gupta, apprising that the Lok Adalat is one of the most prominent component of Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanism for amicable settlement of disputes and people should come forward to settle their grievances
through the Lok Adalats as it saves the valuable time and money of the public.
Member Secretary further informed that to extend free Legal Services round the clock to the needy people, the State Authority has also started 24×7 Toll Free Helpline Number-1968 for the general public and anyone in need of Legal Services can avail this remedy through toll-free number as and when required. As per Section-12 of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 the persons belonging to the Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, the victims of Human Trafficking, person in custody, Women and Children can also avail the remedy of free legal aid to file or defend the case in the court of law.