M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, May 9: As civil courts across Jharkhand are morning courts during summer, nevertheless, the May 14 National Lok Adalat will be a day-long affair.
Secretary of the Palamu district legal services authority Arpit Shrivastav said today that the May 14 National Lok Adalat will function from 10 am to 3 pm.
Notably, the first phase of panchayat election voting is also due on May 14 in the state. Palamu is also set to vote for its 750 panchayats.
DC and SP, who make it a point to be present at the inauguration of the National Lok Adalat, may miss their date in Daltonganj on May 14 in the wake of the first phase of polling.
Deputy Commissioners happen to be the vice-chairman of the district legal services authority. A final word on their participation is yet to come.
Secretary of Palamu District Legal Services Authority Arpit Shrivastav said, “We understand this first phase panchayat polling should not cast its shadow on the national Lok Adalat. The show will go on.”
Shrivastav said people should know that in the run-up to the national Lok Adalat, people have the choice and option to see their cases settled before even May 14.
“From the very beginning of April, we have the disposal of cases daily for the national Lok Adalat,” he added.
140 cases of the pre-litigation status have been disposed of till May 5. Similarly, 189 compoundable cases have been disposed of till May 5. The updated figure for disposal of total cases is expected either on May 14 or before, according to sources.
4,000 notices have been issued for settlement of matters related to the department of electricity, banks, forest, motor vehicle accident compensation, marriage and family disputes, criminal compoundable offences etc.
Notably, the National Lok Adalat is held every two months.
The first national Lok Adalat of the year 2022 was held in the second week of March in Daltonganj at a simple function where there were some issues related to drinking water and other basic facilities.
Meanwhile, the principal district and sessions judge Palamu PK Choubey has directed officials to ensure no inconvenience is caused either to the benches or to the parties or the clients etc.
Asked about the venue of Lok Adalat, Palamu DLSA Secretary Arpit Srivastava said, “We will take a call on the venue of the National Lok Adalat once we get assured who from the civil and police administrations are coming to join us on the day May 14 of the inauguration.”
