SSLSA organises National Lok Adalat in Sikkim

GANGTOK, 24 Nov: As directed by Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority, a National Lok Adalat was held on 23 November, 2013 in Sikkim as well as throughout the country.
A press release from Sikkim State Legal Services Authority [SSLSA] informs that a meeting chaired by  Executive Chairman, Sikkim, SLSA with the Head of Departments, Government of Sikkim, Judicial Officers and other District Administrations was held for the purpose of identifying disputes which were not only pending with the Courts but also unseen by the administration and judiciary pertaining to boundary/ Land Acquisition, Family Disputes etc. that could be brought before such Lok Adalats for amicable settlement.
Pre-sittings with the parties by the Lok Adalat Judges along with Other Persons were also held periodically to enable the departments and parties to facilitate amicable settlement.
Lok Adalats at the High Court level presided by Executive Chairman, Sikkim, SLSA and Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee with Other Person was held in the office of the Sikkim SLSA.
Similar Lok Adalat Benches at the District Level were being held in the respective District Court premises.
A total of 668 cases at the pre-litigative and post-litigative stages have been filed in various courts like land Acquisition, Property Disputes, Eviction Suit, Criminal Compoundable Cases, MACT, Private Complaints, Traffic Cases, Cases under the Negotiable Instrument Act and Family matters.
The inaugural programme of the National Lok Adalat organized by National Legal Services Authority was web-telecast at the High Court and web-cast linked to the District Courts. The inaugural function was chaired by Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice G.S Singhvi, Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman NALSA and Justice A.K Patnaik, Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee in the Judges lounge, Supreme Court of India between 9 am to 10 15 am.
Judge, High Court of Sikkim and Executive Chairman, Sikkim SLSA, Justice SP Wangdi with the Registrar General, Registrar, High Court of Sikkim, Member Secretary, Sikkim SLSA, Principal District Judge East, Judicial Officers of the East District and Other Persons of the High Court Lok Adalat witnessed the live web-telecast of the inaugural function at the High Court of Sikkim.
The Lok Adalat were organized right from the Supreme Court to the Taluka Courts level and conducted throughout the nation. The purpose of the National Lok Adalat is to reduce the pendency of cases in the courts. Due to fresh and urgent matters requiring immediate attention, these cases remain unattended to. Hence, it was the vision of Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA, Justice G.S Singhvi to dispose of a large number of cases on 23 November which would have a positive impact in society about the judiciary, as also about the existence of the alternative method of dispute resolution, which can be availed of by the public, the release mentions.
Simultaneously, the system would also get unclogged stimulating the speed of disposal of cases in the Courts by reducing the pendency in Courts and promoting easy access to justice through the Alternate Resolution where Lok Adalat is one of the forums.
For ensuring “Access to Justice” and to resolve disputes amicably, under the direction of the Executive Chairman, Sikkim SLSA, Lok Adalat Benches was constituted in all the Courts in the Districts with Ld. Judicial Officers as Lok Adalat Judges and Other Persons by the State Authority.