CJI inaugurates country's first Mobile Adalat

Bangalore, Nov 22 (UNI) Chief Justice of India, Justice K G Balakrishnan today inaugurated the country's first 'Mobile Adalat and Literacy Chariot' intended to spread Legal Literacy throughout the state and facilitate Lok Adalats at Panchayath level.

Speaking after flagging off the vehicle, he said by educating the rural masses about the National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme (NREGS), through Legal State Services Authorities, courts were also playing a significant role to empower the rural poor.

Stating that by enacting NREGS, Centre has recognised people's employment right enshrined in the Directive Principles in the Constitution as a fundamental right, the Chief Justice said state Legal Service Authorities can play a vital role in spreading messages to the rural poor on creating awareness on the same.

He said several legislations passed both in Parliament and state Assemblies, intended to empower the poor and downtrodden, had not reached the people due to lack of awareness.

The Mobile Adalat and Literacy Chariot, flagged-off by the Chief Justice was provided by state Legal Service Authorities, who had acquired it from state-run Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

The Mobile Lok Adalat and Literacy Chariot will be used for spreading Legal Literacy throughout the state and Lok Adalat will be organised in two phases, the second at Gram Panchayaths headquarters.

The Chariot has been designed to hold the sitting of Lok Adalat in the bus itself.

The Mobile Adalat is expected to commence its sittings in Bidar soon. Karnataka Chief Ministwer B S Yeddyurappa , who also participated in the flag off, said full time administrative and technical manpower was imperative for effective implementation of the scheme.

Through capacity building measures, trained personnel have to be recruited at Gram Panchayat level and improve the capacity of Panchayat Presidents and members, he said.

Karntaka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, speaking on the occasion, expressed concern over increasing number of pending cases especially those filed by underprivileged people, the number being 2,25,452 of the 7,44,831 cases pending.

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