Budgam September 11:(KNS) Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Executive Chairman, JKLSA and Member NALSA today inaugurated “Third National Lok Adalat” at ADR CENTRE in District Court Complex Budgam at 9.45 am on 11th of September, 2021 in presence of Mr Mohammad Ashraf Malik,PD&SJ Budgam, Mr. Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza,DC Budgam,Mr. Tahir Saleem ,SSP Budgam, other judicial officers and Lawyers of District Bar at Budgam.
Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after inaugural of the National LoK Adalat inspected all the three Lok Adalat benches at District Court Budgam. The hon’ble Executive Chairman JK LSA who is also a member of NALSA distributed various awards of compensations to victims of MACT amounting to Rs. 47 lakhs. Further, the highest award was in a bank recovery suit which got settled at Rs 1.90 crores.
Delivering inaugural address on the occasion, Justice Ali Mohammad Magray emphasized that Lok Adalat (People’s Court) is one of the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, where the cases or disputes which are pending in a court or which are at pre-litigation stage are settled in an amicable manner. Lok Adalats serve very crucial functions in India due to many factors like pending cases, illiteracy, poverty, high vacancy in courts etc. He reiterated that resolving disputes through Lok Adalat not only minimizes litigation expenditure, it saves valuable time of the parties and their witnesses and also facilitates inexpensive and prompt remedy appropriately to the satisfaction of both the parties.
He further emphasized that Lok Adalat has a positive contributory role in the administration of justice. It supplements the efforts and work of the courts. Area of contribution chosen for the purpose specially concerns and helps the common man, the poor, backward and the needy-most sections of the society. Lok adalats ensure speedier justice because it can be conducted at suitable places, arranged very fast, in local languages too, even for the illiterates. The procedural laws and the Evidence Act are not strictly followed while assessing the merits of the claim by the Lok Adalat. Hence, Lok Adalats are also known as “People’s Festivals of Justice”
Justice Ali Mohammad Magray in the end stressed the public to "Discourage litigation and persuade your neighbours to compromise wherever they can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time”. Further, Justice Magrey lauded the efforts of team DLSA Budgam, the district administration and the police department for their extraordinary work.
Nevertheless, Bench No. 1, comprised of Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Malik ( PDJ Budgam) and Ms. Fozia Paul (Secretary DLSA Budgam). Bench No. 2 comprised of Mr. Sunil Sangra (Addl. DJ Budgam) and Mr. Jehangir Ahmad Bakshi (Sub Judge Budgam). Bench No.3 comprised of Mr. Malik Shabir Ahmad (CJM Budgam) and Ms Uzma Amin (JMIC Budgam).
Bench No. 4 comprised of Mr. Ishtiyaq Alam Baba( Munsiff Chadoora) and Mr. A.R.Hanjura (Senior Advocate). Bench No. 5 Comprised of Mr. Javid Ahmad Parray-JMIC Beerwah and Mr. Naseer Ahmad (President, Bar Association Beerwah). Bench No. 6 comprised of Ms Danista Shafi ( JMIC Magam) and Mr. Perzada Aftab Ahmad Shah (President, Bar Association Magam). Bench No. 7 comprised of Ms Farha Bashir(JMIC Chararisharief) and Mr. Mashooq Ahmad (President, Bar Association Chararisharief)
The matters placed before the Benches included Civil, Criminal Compoundable, Cheque bounce, Bank matters, MACT, Matrimonial, Tenancy, Electricity and Pre-litigation matters.
As per the directions of Justice Magray, this time the focus of the Lok Adalat has been settling the matters of people belonging to far flung areas. Mr Mohammad Ashraf Malik, Chairman DLSA Budgam identified nine areas in the District Budgam which are far flung areas. These areas included Mujpathri, Raiyar , Gurwaith Ringzabal, Khag, Drung, Sutharan, Nilnag and Gogjipathri. Legal Aid helpdesks were established in these areas with the help of PLVs and a huge number of pre litigation matters were taken up and settled by organizing various pre Lok Adalat Conciliatory Sessions in those areas since the month of August.
In the District , a total number of 10,000 matters were taken up and 9000 number of matters were settled amicably by engaging all the concerned Officers of District Budgam. The total settlement amount realized in the District was Rs. 7.23 Crores. Out of the total amount, Rs 1 crore has been settled in the pre litigation matters. Ms Fozia Paul Secretary DLSA Budgam co- ordinated the National Lok Adalat in District Budgam.(KNS)