Ist Mega Lok Adalat settles 600 cases in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 4: In the first Mega Lok Adalat since independence,600 different cases were settled here during the day long hearing inthe Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The Adalat took about 1900 cases relating to matrimonial, civil,consumer and accidental claims. However, 600 cases were settled throughnegotiation and mutual understanding and compensation of Rs 2.50 croreawarded to the claimants.

The Adalat also directed the Life Insurance Company (LIC) to pay 11 lakh as compensation to the claimants.

Similar Adalat was held in Jammu, the winter capital of the state.

Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan whileinaugurating the Mega Lok Adalat stressed the need for speedy disposalof pending cases in subordinate courts.

Justice Khan described the conduct of Lok Adalats timely and wellconceived adding that such steps had not only facilitated quickdisposal of cases but also helped in upholding the authority of law,besides registering spectacular achievements in providing free legalaid to needy at their doorsteps.

He urged the Judges and legal functionaries to study the cases thoroughly and look for real facts before deciding a case.

Justice Khan said that time had gained such a great importance intoday's fast developing world that a person did not want to waste asingle moment on petty and insignificant issues. Under the prevailingscenario, it was obligatory for the judiciary not to drag the cases andinstead evolve an effective mechanism for their expeditious settlement.

On the occasion, it was informed that since October 2005, Rs 9crore had been released in favour of Subordinate Courts which wasdistributed among the claimants as compensation while Rs 5 crore weredistributed among the claimants by Mega Lok Adalat held at Jammu.

Present on the occasion were Justice V.P. Malhotra, JusticeManzoor Ahmad Mir, Legal Secretary, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Fida, Judges ofSubordinate Courts besides a sizeable number of lawyers and litigants.

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